THE headline Triple Tragedy near Droitwich brought Journal readers details of an horrific incident at this time a century ago.

Near neighbours who heard groans coming from a cottage alongside Hadzor Wood had discovered 45 year-old widow Isabella Gordon and her six year-old son Alexander lying in a blood-spattered bedroom. They had been battered severely about the head and were clearly in great pain.

A doctor was called but both the mother and child died within minutes of one another. Shortly afterwards, the body of Mrs Gordon's sister, Annie MacDonell, was found in a deep well in the garden.

At the inquest, it was revealed that Annie MacDonell had only recently left a mental hospital where she was being treated for a serious psychiatric condition and also suicidal tendencies.

Forensic evidence showed that Annie had bludgeoned her sister and nephew with a hammer and then committed suicide by throwing herself down the well.

The inquest jury returned verdicts of "Wilful Murder" against Annie MacDonell. The Coroner said it was "very unfortunate this lady was permitted to leave an asylum without any special instructions being given as to the vigilance and care that should be exercised in respect of her mental condition and suicidal tendencies."

Assassinated

FROM the world scene, the Journal for this week of 1901 brought news of the "attempted assassination" of American President William McKinley during a visit to Buffalo.

"He was shot at close range and hit in the chest and abdomen. A well-dressed stranger in a high hat pushed through the crowd to fire the shots. The President himself plucked out the bullet from his chest, it having lodged against his breast-bone. He told his aides and officials that he was not badly hurt though he was rushed to hospital."

The following week's Berrow's headlined the sad sequel that President McKinley had died. It was suggested the bullet that entered his abdomen had been dipped in poison because gangrene had quickly set in and caused death. The President's last words were reported as "Good-bye all, goodbye. It is God's way. His will is done."

The Journal stated that the assassin, "anarchist Leon Czolgosz" had already been hauled before a Grand Jury and charged with murder in the first degree. The American Vice-President - Col. Theodore Roosevelt, the Governor of New York State - has been sworn in as the new President.