A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 568, 4 December 1915, Page 11

A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

DOUBLE MURDER. WOMAN AND CHILD SAVAGELY? SLAIN. :^j MURDERER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE^ Press Association. AUCKLAND, December.3. A ghastly tragedy occurred tonight, when a half-caste named Geo. > Gordon, a labourer by occupation,kmurdered a single woman named : Martha McKee, with whom he had been living for 18 months, and also 'h their child, aged eight months. It appears that Gordon attacked the child with the butt-end of a hatchet, smashing Its head practi-' cally to pulp. He then attackedMcKee with the hatchet, terrible injuries. Both died in the ' hospital shortly after admission. .. : The murderer then cut his own throat from ear to ear with the-, razor, and slashed his abdomen, inflicting a great wound. There is every indication of a deliberate and sudden attack. Gor- ' don and the woman lived in a room -'* in Hobson Street, on the first floor; , | the room overlooking the street; .- Nothing was known of the tragedy* until the sister of McKee called and. X found the doors and windows lock- '■ ed. There was another child, aged -"' about two and a-half years, in the ": room, apparently the child of Gor-. - • don's marriage. The whereabouts of. y his wife are unknown. Gordon did. V not attack this child, and McKee's £* sister succeeded in getting her to* push the key under the door, and.-;-* thus gained admission. _"_ V; Very little is known of Gordon's. * antecedents. He came to Auckland '-"• from Kihikihi, some weeks ago. A: ~; letter addressed to his mother at'V Kihikihi refers in an indefinite way,vi to his intention to do something vio- : ;&! lent. ," .<S§

I The two children were left alone'£;' in a room this morning. after 11 o'clock Gordon entered the. house and went upstairs, and the f~s landlord states that he did not seV'Vf" him again. The woman McKee re-p. turned about 3 o'clock. The land- ;f: lord adds that during the next couple A : of hours the only sound from don's room was' as if a bed were being moved. No scream or sound; of a struggle was heard. vT-£ Gordon is sinking rapidly.