A Family Murdered.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 309, 30 December 1914, Page 2

A Family Murdered.

FATHER, MOTHER, CHILD.

ALL THREE TOMAHAWKED.

Per Press Association. Palmerston North, December 29

Advice was received by the local police this evening that a horrible triple murder had been committed in the the Ruahine district, presumably on Monday morning, the victims being Mr James McCann,a farmer, his wife and daughter. The discovery was not made until to-day, but as McCann was found lying in his cowshed, it was inferred that he was milking at the time of the murder. Evidently he was killed with a tomahawk. It appears that the murderer then proceeded to the house, and killed Mrs McCann and her child, as the bodies were found lying in bed. Mrs McCann was killed from a blow of the tomahawk, which sank into the skull from eye to eye. The nature of the child’s wounds was not stated in the message.

On discovery of the tragedy, Sergeant Harvie, of Taihape, and Constable Essen, of Mangaweka, proceeded to the scene of the murder. Detective Siddells and Quirke also left to investigate. Suspicions point to a German farm laborer, who has disappeared.