SHOT IN SLEEP

Evening Star, Issue 23143, 17 December 1938, Page 30

SHOT IN SLEEP

A FARMHOUSE TRAGEDY GIRL'S PLUCKY STRUGGLE WITH FATHER [Per United Press Association.] MOTUEKA, December 16. The sequestered township of Uruwhcmia, m the Golden Hay district, was the scene of a shocking tragedy in the early hours of this morning when Mrs Arthur Kerr, wife of a highly-respected farmer, and her young son John, aged 10 years, were found dead as the result of bullet wounds. On the arrival of the police, the husband, Arthur Kerr, was arrested. The victims of the tragedy were apparently shot while they were asleep. Jt is stated that following the tragedy a grim struggle took place for possession of a rifle between Miss 11a Kerr, aged' 19, and her father. Eventually Miss Kerr, with the assistance of a brother, Max Kerr, gained possession of the weapon. There were no eyewitnesses of the tragedy. The detonation of rifle shots in quick succession awakened Miss Kerr shortly before 5 a.m., and at first she did not take any notice of them, _as her father was in the habit of using a pea-rifle in the morning to shoot starlings, but when she heard her father moving about in the house she suspected that something was wrong. Rushing from her room to that occupied! hy her mother and young brother, she found them lying in bed suffering from bullet wounds which subsequently proved fatal. Miss Kerr then went in search of her father and courageously attempted to obtain possession of a rifle which he was carrying. Max Kerr, who slept in a wharo adjoining the homestead, came to her assistance, having been aroused hy the girl’s screams. Linesmen engaged' repairing a telephone line nearby communicated with a doctor and Constable Strawhridge, of Takaka, who arrived within a few minutes and arrested Kerr. The arrested man is about 55 years of ago. Mrs Kerr was 49, and there were three children. An inquest will be held this morning before the district coroner, Mr R. W. KiVk.