STABBED TO DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 21429, 25 June 1931, Page 7

STABBED TO DEATH

AUCKLAND SENSATION WOMAN ATTACKED WHILE IN BED LYSOL THROWN IN DAUGHTER’S. FACE (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 24. Mrs Gwen Johnson, aged about 40, was stabbed to death shortly after eight this morning in a house at 47 Randolph street, off New road, while Miss Queenie Driscoll, aged 16, was stabbed in the arm and had Lysol thrown in her face. Subsequently, a man named George Rameka, aged 36, was found in another house suffering from the effects of poison and was taken to hospital. The story told the police is that a man who is alleged to be Rameka arrived at the house, went into Mrs Johnson’s room and locked the door. Screams were heard from the room and Mrs Keesing, the occupier of the house, tried to force open the door. The man emerged and stabbed Miss Driscoll in the arm, threw Lysol in her face and rushed downstairs. Mrs Keesing struck him with a flatiron. He roiled downstairs, staggered down the steps and along the street and went off in a taxi. ■» Neighbours meanwhile entered the room and found Mrs Johnson on the floor bleeding from a deep wound in her breast and covered with Lysol on her face. A sheath knife was also found. The hospital reported at noon that Rameka's condition was serious. Miss Driscoll is the late Mrs Johnson’s daughter. Mrs Keesing said to-day that last night a Maori came to the house and threatened to commit suicide by taking poison. She pushed hint out. of the door. The girl was in bed with her mother who was asleep when the Maori entered and attacked the mother. The girl tried to ward off the blow and in the struggle was wounded. Mrs Murphy, Rameka’s cousin, said he returned this morning and asked her to give a letter to his father. He added: ‘This is the end of my life,” and collapsed. PLUCKY WOMAN’S ACT ATTACK ON THE INTRUDER. MAORI HIT WITH FLAT IRON. Auckland, June 24? A graphic story of the murder was told by Mrs L. Keesing, tenant of the house in which Mrs Johnson was stabbed, “We had trouble with a Maori last night,” she said. “He came to the front door about 7.30 and threatened to commit suicide “by taking poison. I said to him, ‘Do it outside, not in here’ and I pushed him out of the door. After that we went to a dance in the Orange Hall with Mrs Johnson, Miss Queenie Driscoll and Mrs Johnson's son, Sydney Driscoll. When we came home I had it in my mind that the Maori might be dead under the house,” remarked Mrs Keesing. “Before I was dressed this morning I was kneeling at my bedside saying my prayers when I heard Queenie calling out ‘Murder!’ from an upstairs bedroom where she slept with her mother. 1 knew instantly what had happened. I grabbed a flat iron and rushed up to the bedroom. The door was locked from inside. I screamed ‘Open the door!’ Inside I heard Queenie screaming and I started to smash the door in with the flat iron. .My efforts apparently frightened the person inside as the door was quickly unlocked and the Maori who had been at the front door the night before rushed out and made for me with his right arm raised. In his hand -was a new sheath knife. I attacked him and caught hold of his raised arm and struck him with the iron. He made another rush at me and fortunately the french windows on to the balcony were open, so that I was able to escape. “The, Maori staggered and fell down the stairs,” said Mrs Keesing. She went into the bedroom and found Mrs Johnson lying on the floor bleeding from a deep wouna in her right breast. She died shortly after. Queenie, said Mrs Keesing, was bleeding from a stab in the right arm above the wrist and was blinded by poison which had been thrown in her face. Her right eye was closed. Mrs Keesing asked Queenie what had happened, but the girl could tell only an incoherent story. She said she had been in bed with her mother when the Maori entered the room, locked the door and attacked her mother who was asleep. Queenie tried to ward off the blow and being a strong girl had a short but fierce struggle with her mother’s assailant. In the struggle Queenie was wounded. The Maori who took poison is named Pahara Rameka Kerc. GIRL’S CONDITION NOT SERIOUS. Auckland, June 24. The girl is Queenie Driscoll, aged 16, daughter of Mrs Johnson by a previous marriage. Her condition to-night is not serious. The condition of Pakara Rameka Kere, generally known as George Rameka, has improved considerably. He is not in danger.