SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8447, 20 February 1899, Page 2

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

THE END OF A HONEY. MO OX. BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM FOUND DEAD IN A HOTEL. j (Per Press Association.) P.u.mkhsto.n' Noiitii, Saturday. At about midday the- bodies of a man [and woman were found in a bedroom at I the P.oyal Hotel, with a revolver aloii"side j the bed. Death was caused by bullet wounds in both cases. The man had a wound in the mouth, and the woman behind each ear. I The man's name is W. D. McKain. No j other particulars are yet available. j Lhti;>: — The victims of the tragedy are -Mr and Mis MolOiin. It is believed'they were married at the JTiitt on .Monday Usi". They arrived bore on Tuesday, and apparently lived on a/ieetionate terms. Molvain seems to have first shot his j wife and then himself. A letter addressed by him to his parents shows that the deed was premeditated. Three bairels of the revolver were discharged. The woman is reported to be the daughter of a .Mastertou resident. , To-day. Ihe woman McKain was Minnie, the daughter of the late .Sergeant Price, of Masterton. Both were under i>s years of age. While here they associated with no one. -MeKnin took a cup of coffee to his wife on Friday night, and was heard as if dictating a letter to her. At alotit 4.30 011 .Saturday morning two thuds, were heard in the bedroom occupied by the couple, but the occupant of the next room thought it was someone hitting the wall. He called out, but getting no response dismissed the matter from his thoughts. The housemaid being unable to rouse the couple, the police were called in and the door forced. ..McKain and his wife i\ero lying dead on the bed. A revolver lay beside the man, three barrels being discharged and three loaded. Ihe woman was shot behind each ear, and the man in the month. Among the tilings in the room, two letteis Mere found, evidently wiiiten by the woman and corrected by the man. 'I he contents were : " P.w.mi;rstox North. : I" my dear p.uonls and brothers and , sisters,— Tig hard to part from you, as I ■ love each one of you dearly, but 1 ask you 1 earnestly not to give way," as ' what is to , lie will be,' and rest assured that my dear s wife and I will be at rest. If the world • should charge me with cowardice, don't , lose faith in me, as I have sacrificed my 3 life for a purpose, and would bear the . brunt of this world alone, piovinc what .. trust and faith the has in me. Things may , seem black m the dilTeieiit respects, bub j still keep faith in me, as some day your , faith 111,13- be strengthened."

Jho above was written in ink, apparently by the woman, and Ihen fallowed in ink pencil in the man's hand : "There are some of my things down at Palmerston station. A family Bible is one, and also two large boxes and some tools at Maimwatn station, Wellington. 'Iherc is one thing my dear wife desires, and that is that we' should be buried together. If it be possible bury the two of us together, one above the other, not that I deserve it, but do it for ilin's sake. I ask the forgiveness of you all, and thank you all for what you have, done for me, and also Willoughby Knight. Good-bye.— l remain your affectionate Will, and Ood bless each one of you. lam sorry for your pain."

The following was written on the same payer :—" To my clear wife's people, Masterton.— l liopo you will forgive me for this crime. I am fully aware of its sinfulness, but I bear it bravely, together with my people, knowing we are at rest. It was for a good purpose, however dark things may look.— \V. D. McKai.v." The inquest was adjourned until to-day. Wellington', to-day. McKain, tlie father of the man who committed the tragedy at Palmerston. North, is a confectioner at the Hutt. He was interviewed by Inspector Fender last night, and left, for Palmerston North by this morning's train. It appears that Mc-Kain, the deceased, was 22 years of age, and was married about the middle of January last. He visited Punedin, Christchurch, and Auckland on his honeymoon, and had returned to Palmcrstoii North with the view of starting business in the brushware manufacture trade, which lie had formerly followed. He further states that deceased had at times shown a mcnUl affliction, and thinks the tragedy may Live been brought about by disappointment in connection with certain moneys which he had expected not being received. McKain was habitually quiet and reticent. He was a brush 'maker by trade, but was ambitious and studied hard to take up clerical work. After he married he threw up his position and visited various parts of the colony with his wife, in which process he seems to have exhausted what money he had. He had never given any indication of a suicidal disposition.

.Mrs MeKain was the only daughter of Mrs Price, ot Masterton, who was opposed to the marriage. The girl was pleasant and attractive and very fond of her husband ; in fact she threatened if parted from him to kill herself. The news was broken to Mrs Price, who is ill, on Saturday, and as she insists that her daughter shall he buried at Mastertoa AlcKain'.i wishes will be disregarded. Mr Moorhouse, who was called in by the police to identify the bodies, says the man's face was peaceful but the girl's frightfully contorted, as in deadly fear of the deatli she saw coming. Constable Hutton reports that the McKains were turned oil' the Manawatu line at Croftou on Monday, because they had no ticket. They stayed at- Johnsonville a little furl her on, and on Wednesday morning MeKain asked the constable to assist him in paying his hotel bill, as he had lost his purse in Wellington. He pawned his violin to get money to go to Pitlnwi-stoo, and left in the afternoon. His hotel bill was not paid, and MeKain wrote to the landlord expressing regret, and hinting be would soon see he was paid. iMrCiioke, thestationmaster, also advanced the man money. He had a revolver M'ith a very fancy inlaid handle. He told Hutton ho had friends in Palmerston, and would be all right if lie could get there.