A DISTRESSING TRAGEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14368, 21 May 1920, Page 5

A DISTRESSING TRAGEDY

RESULT OF A QUARREL,

FATHER KILLS IIIS DAUGHTER. AND COMMITS SUICIDE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, .Friday. A distressing tragedy occurred at Olaki last evening. From such particulars as have been obtained by telephone, it appears that about D. 30 a man | named McFall, *a widower with four; daughters, and a labourer by occupation, became engaged in an argument I with his lfl-year-o!d daughter. The | father's tone was more in the nature j of a heated controversy than violent' anger, and the cause of the trouble appears to have been a letter which he. demanded and which she refused to surrender. The girl, it was said, remonstrated, and suddenly was heard lo emit a loud cry and exclaim, "Oil father, you have stabbed me." Immediately after another fall was beard. When a married daughter rushed into the room she was horrified to llnd both her father and sister \n extremis. Both died a short lime afterwards. 'the evidence points lo Hie fads tli.it the father, -in the stress of his anger, •seized a sharp, thin instrument, probably a hatpin, and made a thrust at the girl, piercing her at such a vital Spot as to cause almost instant dealt-. It is then presumed that, horrified at« his deed, the man seized a razor, and cut his throat, inflicting a fearful gash I , The tragedy was reported to the local police by a married daughter, and i!i" police was quickly on the scene, but ' too late to be of any assistance, the victims of the quarrel and tragedy being quite-dead. It is understood 'hit Mr McFall had been a widower for some years. LEVIN, Friday. According to information received here McFall called his daughter lo him. and slabbed her twice in the chest with a butcher's knife. He then cut his own throat. -Both died immediately. II is understood a serious, charge, involving another daughter, was pending against McFall.