MOTHER DEAD; CHILD DROWNED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 July 1933, Page 7

MOTHER DEAD; CHILD DROWNED.

FATHER RESCUED FROM HARBOUR. TERRIBLE DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. Last Night. . The drowning of a five-year-old boy at Point Halswell early this morning and the rescue of his father from the water at Thorndon this afternoon led the police to visit a flat in Wellington, where they found the dead body of the child's mother. The victims are:— Dead Mrs JANES, aged about 40, and her five-year-old son. At Hospital GEORGE JANES, aged 54. The flat in which the three persons lived is at the bottom of a threestoreyed house at 27 Ohiro road. The bottom storey is well below the level of the road. While gathering mussels in the vicinity of Point Halswell shortly after midday to-day a man found the body of. a child on the rocks at about highwater mark. Apparently the boy had been drowned some time earlier in the morning. The boy's parents were no known until several hours later. At about 1.30 p.m. cries were heard frbm a man struggling in the water near the Thorndon breastwork. The men nearby pulled him out unconscious land he was taken to hospital, where he was identified as George Janes. He is making satisfactory progress. The police connected neither the child nor the man with the house at Ohiro road until an occupant of the top flat, hearing of a man named Janes being found in the harbour, rang the station. When the constables arrived at the bottom flat they found the dead body of Mrs Janes. It is understood that neighbours heard cries from a woman and child in the flat just before 7 o'clock this morning. T.he cries lasted for about four minutes, but as there were no shouts for help no attempt was made to interfere. A little later the man and child were seen leaving the house. The three occupants had been living in the house for only a fortnight. The body of the woman will Remain at the house to-night guarded by two. constables.