Tauranga Tragedy.

Woodville Examiner, Volume VIII, Issue 869, 11 February 1892, Page 3

Tauranga Tragedy.

The Inquest. Verdict of Wilful Murder. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, February 10. In his evidence at the inguest on the bodies of George, John, and Lilian Munro, the victims of the Tauranga tragedy, Dr Bullen, who was called in when the murder was discovered, do-po-ed that for some time past he had considered Munro dangerous and insane. He frequently suffered from religious mania, and a few days ago Mrs Munro called on him and showed him bruises caused by her husband, and stated she was in fear of her life and the lives of her children. He reported this to Mrs Bodell (Mnnro’s mother) and to Peter Munro, his brother, and said Munro would do something if not properly looked after. He also reported it to the police. Peter Munro, brother of the accused, admitted that Dr Bullen had told him six months ago that his brother should be watched, but witness understood the doctor to believe that ho would do injury not to others but himself

Sergeant Kiely said that when lie asked Mrs Munro if she considered her husband dangerous, she replied that she was not afraid, but as she had to nurse a baby she would require assistance. He had heard nothing about Munro beating his wife, as stated in Dr Bulien’s evievidence.

During the inquest the prisoner, Munro, was seized by a fit, and caused a sensation by singing hymns. Ho had to be taken out of the room. LatekAt the inquest on the bodies of the victims of the Tauranga tragedy, a verdict was returned of wilful murder against Duncan Munro, with the rider that he should never have been let out of the asylum, and had not been properly looked after by his family. Mrs Munro is still alive, but unconscious and in a critical state. The report that the other child is dead is incorrect, but all hopes for the poor little boy recovering are also given up. Napier, Feb. 10. Private messages from Tauranga, received here by the relatives of Mrs Munro, state that she and the third child are alive and likely to recover.