New Zealand Mass Murders: Munro Murders (9 February 1892)

Duncan Munro had suffered from increasingly worse epileptic fits for years which developed into a religious mania. He was employed by his step-father, businessman and former Mayor of Tauranga, James Bodell. Munro was certified insane after he tried to annoint his newborn son by breaking a kerosene lamp over his head. His mother had him released after six months and he returned to his family in Tauranga where he murdered his wife and children on 9 February 1892. Munro was acquitted on the grounds of insanity. This was the first case of murder by a European in Tauranga - Debbie McCauley, 22 June 2013 http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/tauranga_local_history/topics/show/1398

The four killed:

1. Grace Emma Munro (née Freeman) 30 year old Grace and her children were attacked by her husband with a flat iron and rolling pin at approximately 7.15am on the morning of 9 February 1892. She and her children sustained severe head injuries. Grace was found on the kitchen floor and died six days later (reg. 1892/672). One of her sons, three year old Alexander, survived the attack.
2. George Duncan Munro 6 year old George was attacked by his father, Duncan Munro, on 9 February 1892. Along with his mother and siblings he sustained severe head injuries. George was found lying with his mother in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor. He died about 20 minutes after his younger brother John (reg. 1892/626).
3. John Hugh Munro 4 year old John was attacked by his father, Duncan Munro on 9 February 1892. He was found along with his baby sister lying on a double bed in the front room. Along with his mother and siblings he sustained severe head injuries. He died after convulsing at 10am on the morning of the attack (reg. 1892/627).
4. Lilly Emma Munro 7 month old Lilly was attacked by her father, Duncan Munro, on 9 February 1892. She was found along with her older brother John lying on a double bed in the front room. Along with her mother and siblings she sustained severe head injuries. Lilly died at approximately 11am on the morning of the attack (reg. 1892/628).

The family were buried in the Tauranga Anglican Cemetery.

Newspaper Report: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BOPT18920210.2.6