DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

Inangahua Times, 6 November 1934, Page 2

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

| FAMILY WIPED OUT. SHOT WITH PEARLFLE. (Per United press Assn.) HAMILTON, Last Night. An entire family was wiped ont in a shocking domestic tragedy which occurred on a small dairy farm at Horsham Downs, five miles from Harailtein, at 11,30 this morning, The victims were:— '• , HARRY T. ROGERS, 96, a farmer, j MARION ISABEL GOLDEN ROGERS, I about 26, his wife. BARBARA ROGERS, two and a half. NOLA ROGERS, 10 months. The first indication that anything was amiss came when Shepherd, a brother of Mrs Rogers, who is employed on Rogers’ farm, called at the cottage at 12.30 p.m. He was shocked to find his sister lying dead in the wash-house, which adjoins the two rooms of the cottage. Without Investigating further he rushed hack to get a neighbour, G. M.. Williamson. The latter went across to Rogers’ cottage and there found all the members of the family dead. Rogers was lying on his face in the bedroom, with a pearifle partly nndemeath him. In the same room, lying in a cot, was the child Barbara, also dead, and the body of the baby, Nola, was found In the pram in the kitchen. All the victims had been shot at close range with a

pearifle. The body of Mrs Rogers, which also contained a pearifle bullet, was found lying on its back in the washhouse. It is obvious that she was shot while engaged in washing. She fiad been on the farm since last June. The farm is fifty acres in extent and they were milking fifty cows. The house had been erected when Rogers entered into occupation. Although not well known in the district, they had been exceedingly popular with all with whom they had come into contact with.

Williamson stated this afternoon that Rogers visited his farm (about a mile away) at 11 o’clock this morning to return the wire strainers he had borrowed. He was then quite normal and gave no indications of any stress or worry. It is stated, however, that Rogers was a man given to worry and had "been in a depressed state for some time. He is said to have suffered financial worries.

Several articles of clothing were found hanging on the clothes line and there was another tub full of washing in the wash-house, where Mrs Rogers met her death.

The investigations of the police at Rogers’ farm this afternoon point to a theory of triple murder and suicide, no notes or any indication of Rogers’ intention being found. Mrs Rogers returned only a few days ago/ from a holiday with the children. There is no access to the house except over the paddocks.