Second Edition. THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 309, 30 December 1914, Page 6

Second Edition. THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY.

GRUESOME PARTICULARS OF COLD-BLOODED CRIME.

- AN UNNATURALISED GERMAN.

Per Press 'Association. Taihape, December 30. McCann was an esteemed "settler of Ruahine, and for the last two years had been dairy farming on his own account. On Monday morning Arthur Rotterman, an unnaturalised German, who had been working for three months,

took the milk to the Ruahine factory, and the manager , pointed out there was only about half, the usual supply, there, and Rotterman stated as an excuse that he had knocked some cans over in the hurry to get away, and had thus spilt the milk. The explanation was accepted. As there was no milk from McCann’s yesterday, the factory manager and assistant decided to visit McCann’s and find but .the cause of the unprecedented occurrence. McCann was found lying .face downawards in the cowbail in a pool of blood with his head split open. The doctor and police were communicated with, and then an entry was forced into the house. A. ghastly sight met those who entered the bedroom,. Mrs McCann was found on the floor with her head split open in three places in a pool of blood, and the thirteen. months-old baby hoy was on the pillow on the bed saturated in blood, having been practically beheaded. Mr McCann was thirty-five years of age, and Mrs McCann came x from England two years ago to marry him. Naturally, the occurrence cast the

whole Rangitikei district in-gloom. Rotterman absented himself on Saturday and Sunday without leave, and returned late on Sunday night. It is presumed McCann chastisyfi him,. and Rotterman evidently seized the opportunity to murder McCann with the

tomahawk, which was yesterday found covered with hair and blood on the grass under the window of a room occupied by Rotterman. The perpetrator of the outrage then evidently murdered Mrs McCann and child, delivered the milk to the factory, and returned to the house and changed his clothes, harnessed the horse, and rode to Mangaweka, nine miles away. There

he conversed with several people and put the horse in the stables with instructions that if he did not return

that night, to turn the horse into a paddock. He then boarded the south Auckland-Welliugton express at Mangaweka and was last-seen in the dining - car on the train having lunch. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

At the inquest this morning evidence of identification was given, and the inquest adjourned to next Wednesday. Rotterman was on the Hinexnoa, and was discharged through being an alien;