THREE POISONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 8

THREE POISONED.

TRAGEDY ON KARAKA FARM.

MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN DEAD.

THIRD CHILD RECOVERS FROM EFFECTS.

MOTHER'S REGENT THREATS OF SUICIDE.

In a neat little four-roomed cottage at Te Hihi, in the Karaka district, a few miles from Papakura, the dead bodies of a mother and two children were found by Dr. Page, of Papakura, about 3 o clock yesterday afternoon. They had been poisoned. 1 hose dead are:—

Mrs. Mary Minnie Blackwell, 36 years. Mar jorie Doreen Blackwell, 1 4 years. Muriel Merda Blackwell, 1 1 years. ™- A jL tle^° f J t ix , years < Gord °* Blackwell) wae also poisoned by the food he had eaten, but after vomiting violently ht recovered, and to-day he is well and bright. be TV Hik"* aWay ?° m Ae faim owned fe y Y ates and Co. at Te Hdu » the cottage where the Blackwells have hved for the past worked A? Herbert John Blackwell l^

DOCTOR'S ARRIVAL.

TWO ALREADY BEAD.

SECOND CHILD IN CONDITION OF

COLLAPSE.

At 12.45 pjn. yesterday, the Kttle boy Gordon, ran up to the manager's house ■with a note written in a shaky hand upon an ordinary envelope.

It said: "Send for Dr. Page." The little boy was asked who gave ton th& note. "Mummy wrote it," replied the little chap. Mr. Yates sent Gordon back with the note, asking him to find out why a doctor was needed. The telephone in the lates home was ont of order, and after endeavouring to get through to Papaknra for quarter of an hour, Mr. Yates rode over to a neighbour's house, a mile away, and there got through to Dr. Page. The doctor did not arrive as soon as was expected owing to iris car becoming in the mud of the road. - As jar as can be found, Marjorie and Munel BlackweH returned to their home at mid-day yesterday, after having gone to the man ,; boxes near the Te feu DCiiool for their correspondence. Dcctor Finds Bodies. It was when Dr. Page arrived at the cottage. When hewent mads he found fHrs. BlackweU and Muriel dead. : Marjorie was in violent paiae and died before anything could be done. Tie doctor was alone in the house. Lying on the sofa in tie kitchen was the mother, fully clothed and wearing a pretty pink frock. She looked peaceful. In the bedroom used by the girls Muriel was found with all her clothes on in bed. Marjorie was also fully dressed. Both girls had their shoes and stcckinge on. Getting up in his usual way early yesterday morning, Mr. BlackweU took a cup of tea to his wife before he went to milk seven eows. Marjorie helped

him. After breakfast he left home at seven o'clock to truck sheep at Papakura. When he left his wife and family were in good spirits. Mrs. BlackweU was washing the breakfast dishes as he rode away. Kγ. BlackweU Leans of Tragedy. After Ms day's work, Mr. BlackweU was coming home from Papaknra, about 5 o'clock, when he met Dr. Page, who was on the way back. It was only then that he learned of the dreadful tragedy. The husband states that Mrs. BlackweU had previously threatened to commit suicide. Once last year she admitted that she had poisoned the food. Mrs. BlaekwelFs last visit to town was on Thursday of last week. She did her usual shopping, and came back to her home on Friday. Neighbours say. that. Mrs. BlackweU tad been a little dull lately. Lunch eaten by the mother and three children yesterday included Wane mange and apricots. All ate welL A few minutes later the little boy Gordon was evidently sent by his mother to the Yates* with the hurriedly scrawled note. After his Talk through the mud and slush of the rough private road which leads past the Yates , home down to the cottage of the Bhvckwells, Gordon gave the note to Mr. Yates. Then he was violently skk, but quickly recovered, A Heat Cottage. Dr. Page, on his arrival at tie cottage, which stands a short distance back from the road, fonnd everything immaculately dean and tidy. All the dishes, pots and pans, cutlery, etc, had been beautifully washed and put away. There wa* not a dirty utensil in the house. Every thing was spick and span. The police were advised, and Constables Allen (Pukekohe) and Holland (Papakura) went to the farm last night and took charge until Auckland detectives arrived to-day. The bodies were taken to Auckland for a post-mortem examination and an inquest.