TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4414, 6 November 1934, Page 3

TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE

FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO DAUGHTERS DEAD.

FARM TRAGEDY.

Hamilton, Last Night,

An entire family was wiped out in a shocking tragedy which occurred on a small dairy-farm: at Horsham Downs, five miles from Hamilton, at 11.30 this morning. The victims were:—

Harry T. Rogers, aged 26, a farmer.

Marion Isabel Golden Rogers, about 26, his wife. Barbara Rogers, aged 2J years.

Nola Rogers, 10 months. The first indication that anything was amiss came when Mr 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 washhouse, which adjoins*, the two rooms of the cottage. Without investigating further, he rushed back to get a neighbour, Mr G. M. Williamson. The latter went aci’oss to the Rogers’ cottage, and there found all members of the family dead. Rogers was lying on his face in the bedroom with a pea-rifle partly underneath him. In the same room, lying in a cot, was the child, Barbara, while the dead body of the baby, Nola, was found in a 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 pea-rifle bullet, was found 1 lying on her back in the washhouse. It was obvious that she was shot while engaged in washing. They had been on the farm since last June. The farm is 50 acres in extent, milking 50 cows. The house had been erected when Rogers entered into occupation. Although not vyell known in the district, they had been exceedingly popular with all with whom they had come in contact.

Mr Williamson stated this afternoon that Rogers visited his farm (about a mile away) at 11 o’clock this morning to return wirestrainers he had borrowed. He was then quite normal and gave no incations 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 a clothes-line, and there was another tub full of washing in the washhouse where Mrs Rogers met her death. Investigations bv the police on the Rogers’ farm this afternoon point to the theory of triple murder and-suicide. No notes or any indication of Rogers’ intentions were 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.