DROPPED IN RIVER

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1943, Page 4

DROPPED IN RIVER

SIX YOUNG CHILDREN Mother’s Demented Action FOUR DROWNED WITH HER. P.A. INVERCARGILL, June 27. A drowning tragedy in which a widow and four of her six young children are believed to have lost their lives occurred at the Waihopai River on the outskirts of Invercargill on Saturday night. The victims of the tragedy were:— Emma Mcßae Atkinson Robertson, aged 37 years, the mother. Struan Robertson, aged 4 tyfears. James Robertson, aged 5 years. Nan Robertson, aged 3 years. Graham Robertson, aged 2 years. Mrs. Robertson’s husband, ’James Robertson, died 10 months ago. Early on. Saturday evening, according to the police, Mrs. Robertson took her six children for a walk to a nearby bridge. ‘She there dropped each child into the river, then following them herself. , The eldest child, Joan Robertson, aged 7 and one of twin boys, Alister Robertson, . aged 4, were able to scramble ashore. The other children sank immediately, or they were carried down stream by the fast running current. The river was flooded. • The police recovered the bodies of the mother and the boy Struan by dragging to-day.