TRAGEDY AT OTAKI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15222, 21 May 1920, Page 3

TRAGEDY AT OTAKI.

FATAL QUARREL. FATHER KILLS DAUGHTER AND THEN COMMITS SUICIDE. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A distressing tragedy occurred at Otaki last evening. From such particulars as have been obtained by telephone it appears that at about 9.30., a man named McFall, a widower, with four daughters, a laborer by occupation, became engaged m an argument with his 19-year-old daughter, Olive. A brisk interchange of words was overheard by a married daughter. The father's tone was more m the nature of heated controversy* than violent anger, and the cause of the trouble appeared to be a letter which ho demanded and which she refused to surrender. The girl, it was said, remonstrated, and was heard to emit a loud cry, and exclaim, "Oh, father, you have stabbed me." Immediately afterwards another fall was heard, and' when the married daughter rushed into tiie room she was horrified to find both her father and sister m extremis. Both died shortly afterwards. The evidence points to the fact that the father, m the stress of anger, seized a sharp, thin instrument, probably a hatpin, and made a thrust at the girl, piercing her m such a vital spot as to cause almost instant death. It is then 1 presumed that horrified at his deed, the man seized 1 a razor and cut his throat, inflicting a fearful gash. The tragedy was reported to the local police by the married daughter, and the police were quickly on the scene, but too late to be of any assistance, the victims of the quarrel and tragedy being quite dead. 1 It is understood that McFall has been a widower for' some years. LEVIN, this day. A shocking tragedy took place at Otaki • last, nighty- A "man, named Thomas MoFall murdered his daughter Oftve, aged nineteen, and then' committed suicide. Tlie daughter was just retiring to rest, when , McFall called her to him. H e stabbed '"■• her twice m tlie chest, and back with a butcher's knife, and then cat his own throat. Both died 'immediately. It is understood that x serious charge involving another daughter was pending against McFall.