SHOT DEAD IN SCHOOL

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2778, 20 October 1923, Page 5

SHOT DEAD IN SCHOOL

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IT WMIHO. DEMENTED SETTLER FIRES ON CLASS. TWO BOYS KILLED, SEVERAL OTHERS WOUNDED. SURRENDER AFTER SIEGE. [Per Press Association.] WAfcftl, Last Night The most terrible tragedy in the history of the quiet little township of Waiki.no occurred this morning, when a middle-aged married man, John Higgins, a firewood dealer and settler, living at Wahawheta, ran amok, and before finally Surrendering to the police, shot eight' persons, two fatally. At about lb o'clock, Higgihs entered the public school-house and accosted the master, Mr R. T.. Reid, with the remarkable statement that he proposed shooting all the Children attending the school: at the same time telling him to go and inform the police. . Mr Reid, recognising that the man's condition was not normal, endeavoured in the first instance to soothe him, but without avail, fliggins becoming excited and brandishing an automatic Colt pistol. The master, with fine presence of mind, then called to the children and the assistant teachers to run for their lives, and continued to endeavour to claim the attention of Higgins, as the latter then showed indications of his intention to open five. Mr Reid attempted to prevent him, but was. immediately put out of action by two shots in succession, one striking him in the jaw and the other entering at the neck. As Mr Reid fell, his assailant turned him OVCr, evidently to satisfy him T self that he was dead, which tile master feigned to be, otherwise there is little doubt but that he Would again have been fired upon.

Evidently Satisfied that he had made an end of the master, Higgins immediately turned his attention to the Children, Who Were now wildly endeavouring to make their escape rrom the building. ■„. Shot followed shot, and amidst the screams of the terrified children, two of them went down, fatally injured. The killed Were:-

KelVyn Morris McLean, aged 13 years, ft Son of Mr Thomas Henry McLean, settler, of Waitewheta. Charles Allen Stewart, aged 9 years, the son of Mr Charles A. B. stewavt, locomotive driver, of Waikino.

pools ot blood in the dormitory and the class-room to the right of the main entrance indicated where the victims had fallen. Higgins apparently continued shooting as the children Pushed for the exit, the firing evidently being indiscriminately done, as he could have achieved his object In selecting any particular scholars for destruction.

The others shot included: —Peter James Mcttinney, aged 8 years, shot through the right hand; Kathleen Sarah McGarry, aged 13, Shot in the thigh; Alexander Bustard, aged 12, shot in the groin; Peter Raymond ShaW, aged 12, shot in the hand; Robert Thomas ReTd, headmaster, shot in the jaw; Herbert J. Olsen, police-constable, shot in the abdomen.

In addition to those shot, two boys were accidentally injured when getting through the school windows. They were James Cochrane, aged 12, whose right arm was broken, and Ashley Curry, aged 13, who sustained a sprained wrist. That utter panic prevailed was disclosed by the fact that bags,' hats, slates and school books were left littered about the classroom, as the panic-stricken children fled pell mell from the building and down the steep incline leading from the school to the main read.

Meanwhile, the shooting had been heard from the township, just on naif a mile away, and battery worker and others set but in the direction whence the Shooting came. They met the fleeing children en route and were acquainted with thfe terrible circumstances.

On arrival at the school ground, they saw ttiggins standing at the window of the master's room, flourishing his weapon. "Come on, co-.no en," fcried Higglns, "I want to get you closer Up for a shot'.'* They, however, being unarmed men, refused the invitation to come and be fired on, and awaited the arrival of '.he Wiihi police.

When Sergeant O'.Gfcftdy and Constable Olsen reached £he scene they attempted to take their man .from the rear of the school, but for some time wire unsuccessful, as frho man continued, firing on the crowd outside, and the police, who gallantly entered the building. The Sergeai\t fired several shots on Higgins, but these proved ineffective, owing to the protection afforded his quarry by a large book cupboard, behind which he w\xs ensconced. Meantime, numbers of the crowd in the playground opened fire With a service rifle, pea rifio and revolvers, but owing to the position taken up by Higglns on an angle of the window they were unable to hit him. Olsen then attempted to got a shot at him from the splintered doorway, but Higgins was too quick and shot him down. After repeated calls by the Sergeant to surrender, loggias, either in fear of his own life, or in calfllfcr mood, t&WW Ws revolver through the window and «tn« police rushed ift tind effected his arrest. In fittggins* possession was found a letter from a truant officer concerning the non-attendanoe of his children