DEMENTED MOTHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 2

DEMENTED MOTHER

THREE CHILDREN KILLED

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT KAIKORAI.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Nov. 9. What was tho motive for the crime at Kaikorai when Ulure Lindsay Hart (aged 5), Andrew Hart (aged 3), and Nola Hart (aged 14 months) had their throats cut, is not known yet. The woman is in custody, and her husband, who was working at the time, has been in a state almost of collapse since he saw his children in the ghastly condition in which his wife’s handiwork left them. The act seems to have been that of a demented woman. Even experienced police officers found the scene inside the house one that fully taxed their self-control.

Tho first alarm was given when Mrs O. B. Ufton, a neighbour, heard a frantic knocking at tho front door, which made lier feci that something serious had happened. She went there to find Mrs Hart terribly agitated. “Oh, Mrs Ufton, come quickly,” Mrs Hart cried. “I’ve killed my kids.” The woman, who had a man’s coat around her shoulders and throe small cuts like razor marks across her throat, led Mrs Ufton to her house. A frightful scene fully confirmed the statement.

Lying in a pram was the youngest victim, her head almost severed. The other two children were huddled on a kitchen mat bleeding freely from great gashes in their throats. The elder boy had apparently been preparing for school, .and had one stocking partially pulled on. Breakfast dishes were still on tho kitchen table, and the meal was evidently just finished. All tho children were quite dead, and a bloodstained razor was on the floor near the boys’ bodies. . Mrs Ufton deserves credit for her presence of mind in the appalling situation. After glancing at tho dead children she went out to summon her husband, who returned with her. He locked the door, and got his sister to telephone for the police, and tho police surgeon. Mr Ufton also sent a message to tho woman’s husband, Alexander Hart, who as a carpenter was working at a house in Wilkie Road. Tho husband left for home by motor car.

Mrs Hart knew that a message was being sent to her husband. She appealed to Mrs Ufton to break the pews to him gently. “Don’t' give him' too much of a shock,’’.she said, but tho unfortunate man plainly showed the effect of the terrible blow. Ho stopped’ at tho house for a while, and then almost in a state of collapse, he was taken by motor to the office of his employer at Anderson’s Bay. Tho condition of the slain children was such that it needed no expert eye to tell that they were past all hope. A doctor made- a careful examination, but, of course, could merely say , that tho chidlren were dead. Three alight wounds that were the solo consequence of an apparent attempt the unfortunato woman made on her own life were examined by the doctor. These were found so slight that the application of a little iodine sufficed. The street in which the 'tragedy occurred is in the more populous part of Kaikorai, and is occupied by people in comfortable circumstances. the neighbours, to whom the tragedy was a terrible shock, say that Mr and Mrs Hart came to the" district a few weeks ago from Mosgiel. Mrs Hart is believed to have been a North Island resident at one . time. The house is ot five or six rooms, and stands on a small section. To those associated with Hart the tragic occurrence has been a shock. “He is one of the best,” his employer said this after-, noon. “He is well thought of by his fellow workers, and I hold him in the highest esteem. We all feel for him in his terrible visitation.” Though Mrs Hart is described as being rather reserved, the children were well known in tho street, and favourites of most of the residents. The women say that the general impression was that Mrs Hart was very fond of her children. Many women were in tears. One spoke regretfully of Mrs Hart’s reserve. .“I’m wondering now,” she 'said, “if it would have been different had wo taken steps to secure her friendship.” The unanimous belief of those who know the family is that the deed is that of a demented woman.

The man’s employer said that Mr Hart told him that when he,deft home he had not the slightest inkling that there could be any untoward happening. Commenting on the cuts on the woman’s throat, Mrs Ufton said that the impression she gathered was that the woman was quite insane when slie committed the act, and came to her senses just as she was about to take her own life.