INFANTICIDE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 April 1927, Page 5

INFANTICIDE

MATERNAL MANIA. TERRIBLE GORE TRAGEDY. THREE CHILDREN MURDERED. (BY TELEGRAPH "PRESS ASSOCIATION.) GORE, April 11. George Cockburn Rae, engaged as a farmer at Kaiwera, a somewhat lonely' settlement about six miles fropi Pukerau, left in the usual manner to plough a paddock this morning, his wife and four children being apparently' on good terms. At 12.30 he returned to the farmhouse for luneli.

On nearing the house he heard a shot ring out. He rushed inside, and saw a note on the table. He dashed for the bedroom and was confronted by' his wife with a pea-rifle in her hands, blood streaming from under her left breast.

In a room off the kitchen he discovered his four children, three being shot dead, and the fourth expiring as the father entered the room. The children were dressed in night attire at the time, and it is presumed they were shot by their mother after putting on their nightdresses. The police were communicated with and the demented mother, still alive, was brought to the Gore hospital, where she lies in a very critical condition. The husband is so suffering from shock as to be unable to give a very coherent account of the gruesome tragedy*. The neighbours state that the husband, wife and children were on the best of terms. They' had never known of any' friction. Mrs. Rae is said to be the daughter of a Tuatapero man.

The children’s ages ranged from one year to five y'ears, and the couple had been employed on the farm at Kaiwera for some two or three years.

LATER DETAILS

THE MOTHER. CONSCIOUS.

ONE CHILD 1 MAY LIVE.

GORE, April 12. The condition of Typhina Carroll Rae, one of the victims of yesterday s Kaiwera tragedy, is still very grave but the child has a fighting chance of recovery. A few further details- of the gruesome affairs are (available. The mother was 24 years of age. All four children were shot in the-abdomen with a pea-rifle, one having two bullets in the body. The mother left a note in- . timating her intention to commit suicide. f She was rational enough late last night to make a statement to the cor- - oner. The inquest opened on the scene of the tragedy this, morning. Evidence of identity was taken, . and the pro- * ceedings adjourned.