Murder and Suicide.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 3 May 1911, Page 4

Murder and Suicide.

An awful murder and suicide occurred at Taumarunui, on Sunday last, cn the banks of the Ongarue river, 150 yards from the boat landing, where a young half caste Maori named Tanina Bell murdered Anna Thomas, also a young halfcaste, by cutting her throat with a razor, and then with another razor cut his own. The end of the tragedy was witnessed by Mr. Harris, who immediately secured assistance, and the local doctor and police were on the scene promptly, but Bell and the woman were both dead. The bodies were conveyed to ths morgue. The -cause of the tragedy is put down to jealousy. Bell and the woman had been keeping company. Mr. Harris, manager for Messrs. Hatrick and Co., states that when going down the river to test the depth at the rapids he noticed Bell staggering about as if drunk. Bell, fell, and on rising again, Mr. Harris noticed him slash hi*

throat with a razor and collapse. Mr. Harris endeavoured, after giving the alarm, to atop the Weeding, and the thought struck him to look at the spot where Bell had staggered from. He then discovered the dead body of the girl, and Bell soon succumbed to hie injuries.