SHOCKING TRAGEDY

Patea Mail, 28 February 1936, Page 1

SHOCKING TRAGEDY

ELDERLY COUPLE KILLED. BATTERED TO DEATH. A' double tragedy occurred at the harbour suburb of Ravensbourne, Dunedin, about IL a.m. on Tuesday, when an elderly couple, Thomas Davidson, aged 07 years, a retired furuaceman, and his wife, Agnes Davidson, aged 59 years, were battered to death, their son, Stanley Davidson, aged 22 years, being arrested on a murder charge. Mr. and Airs. Davidson resided oi; the main road of Ravensbourne with their four sons and one daughter. All the family except Stanley and his parents, were away at II o’clock, when a neighbour heard screams and saw Airs. Davidson running towards the house porch, where her husband lay face downwards with a man attacking him with an axe. The neighbour hurried for the police, who, on arrival, fou.ml Airs. Davidson dead near the porch and„ Mr. Davidson dead inside the porch. The sou Stanley was found sitting on a sofa in the front room, and a bloodstained axe was found near the porch, It is stated that Sthnley Davidson was recently released on. probation from a mental institution.