THE TARANAKI TRAGEDY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 306, 25 June 1898, Page 2

THE TARANAKI TRAGEDY.

PARTICULARS OF THE CRIME. (by- telegraph- -press association). Wellington, Last Night. Owing to the interruption in the telegraphic communication, it has been impossible to obtain particulars by wire of the double tragedy which occurred at Midhirst on Wednesday, when a man named Humphrey Handcock cut his daughter's throat and then drowned himself in a well. Newspaper files to hand to-day show that Handcock, who was a widower, and was a native of Kent, for sorre time past had been employed as ganger on the railway. The girl was 20 years of age, and, as far as can be learned, the particulars are somewhat as follows :—Ho got up at the usual time in the morning, but remained at home. Before committing the crime, he sent a little girl, who had been staying with his daughter, awny, and also sent some younger children out of the house, while the eldest boy he sent away to the dairy factory with milk. Then, under circumstances of which there is at present no information, nor indeed is there likely to be any. he cut his daughter's throat with a knife which it is said he sharpened on the previous day. The deed was committed in the house, and then it is assumed he went outside and tied a piece of steel rail, about 3ft. long, to his neck, tied his feet together and jumped into a well near the house. This is surmised to the extent that no one saw what actually happened, but the son, who had been to the dairy factory, on returning home fouud his unfortunate sister lying with her throat cut, still bleeding, bub beyond hope of recovery. He gave the alarm and search was made for his father. His hat and pipe.floating on the surface ot the water in the well at once suggested a search there, and the father's body was found weighted and tied as already described. ItT is said that Handcock had been • suffering from influenza, aud though a man who had been working with him says he noticed nothing sbrauge about his manner, on the other hand another acquaintance, who saw him on Tuesday in one of the Stratford hotels, remarked when he saw him that he was "Going off his chump." Another account states that after the murder of his daughter, Handcock >vrote some letters and then went outside and fastened one end of the rope to the woodwork of the well, tied the other round his neck and then jumped into the well. Handcock was a steady, hard-working man, very, popular amongst his fellow employees and well liked by all with whom lie came in contact. He was in very fair circumstances, having a farm of his own of about 80 acres. The girl was first stabbed in the back, and then Handcock cut her throat. Handcock left a letter showing that the deed was premeditated.