ANOTHER PETONE TRAGEDY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9875, 16 October 1899, Page 2

ANOTHER PETONE TRAGEDY.

A FATHER SHOOTS HIS TWO CHILDREN AND ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. THE ACT ATTRIBUTED TO FINANCIAL WORRY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON October 15. The township of Petono was tho scene of a horrible domestic tragedy last night. A man named Arthur Wolff, a carpenter by trade, aged 32, murdered his two children and then attempted to take his own life. Wolff had been effecting some repairs at tho Masonic nail during the afternoon, and had taken two of his children with him, a boy Hector (aged 5) and a girl Linda (aged 3}). Mrs Wolff had made a trip to Wellington with an infant child and a fourth child, a boy of about 6 years, and spent the afternoon at a neighbour's house. When ho finished his work, about six o'clock, Wolff took Hector and Linda home. Details of tho fearful tragedy, which was enacted after they reached home, must to a certain extent be left to the imagination, for Woltf himsolf has so far said nothing beyond admitting having done tho deed. WollT was Becaby a neighbour to enter tho houso with tho children, and nothing further was heard or seen of them until Mrs Wolff returned homo by tho 7.30 train. The poor woman received an awful shock wlieu sho entered the bedroom. On the iloor, in a pool of blood, wore lying tho bodies of the two children and her husband. All wero then alive, but tho girl died iv less than an hour. Tho father and the boy were immediately tiiken to tho Wellington Hospital, where the latter died during the night. It did not require much investigation to show what had happened. Both the children were shot through tho head, and tho father had a fearful gash on his throat and' a wound on the temple. From tho position of the bodies it was evident that the father had made the two little mites stand up alongside each othor whilo he fired at them with a revolver from tho bed, three or four feet away. Ho then fired four shots at himsolf, but none of them, took effect, though ono grazed his temple. Having thus emptied tho revolver, Wolff threw it on the bed and took up his caso of razors, using one of them on his own throat. Ho fell alongside the bed, close to the j bodies of his children. Tho bedroom, which is rather ainoll in size, presented a horrible sight this morning, tho floor being smeared in blood. Tho cottage, which is situated in Qiieon Street, was well furnished, the rooms having a neat and comfortable appearance. Tho motivo for tho deed is supplied by two theories. Wolff had boon drinking lately, and in addition ho was in financial difficulties, which had caused him a good deal of mental worry. Ho had had several drinks during tho afternoon, but it is not clear what effoct they had had on him, for one man who spoko to him when ho was going home states he was sober, whilo a neighbour says ho was staggering when ho wont up the path. Wolff, who is said to bo very well connectod at nomo, had written for money, but recontly received an unfavourable reply, and this is believed to have particularly woighed on his mind. Ho is very well spoken of in the township, whoro ho had tho reputation of being a good and kind husband and father, and ho appeared to bo especially fond of his wifo and children, and tho neighbours say tho household lived very happily togothor. Whon ho regained consciousness this morning Wolff chatted freely about tho affair, saying "Ho was all right when ho did it, and ho was all right now, but he thought hia wifo would get on better without him and the children." Although somewhat strange in his demeanour, ho shows considerable signs of improvement this afternoon, and the Hospital staff stato that he will in all probability recover, but it will bo somo time before he will be able to appear on ft chargo of wilful murder. Wolff was for somo time a steward of tho Tomperanco Club at Petoue, and had also boon in the employ of Johnston and Co., Wellington, as storoman. Coming so soon after the Jones murder (for which Bosher suffered the extreme ponolty of tho law), tho affair created a tremendous sensation in Potono, and crowds of peoplo flocked to the vicinity of the house during tho evening. The inquest on tho children is proceeding this afternoon.