MOTHER MURDERS SON.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2434, 28 July 1924, Page 5

MOTHER MURDERS SON.

THEN COMMITS SUICIDE. SHOCKING AUCKLAND TRAGEDY. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Last Night. A shocking tragedy occurred at Mt. Albert this morning’, when Helena Harriot D’Ath murdered .her nine-year-old son, Harold, by cutting his throat with a razor. The demented mother then committed suicide by cutting her own throat. It is stated that the mother had been suffering from a nervous breakdown. SUFFERED FROM DELUSIONS. BOY DIES IN FATHER’S ARMS. AUCKLAND, This Morning. Further details of the Mount Alberttragedy show that Mrs D’Ath was the wife of a retired farmer in comfortable circumstances. She had been Indisposed for two years and during the past sis weeks had suffered acutely from a nervous breakdown. She suffered from delusions. Deceased took her little son into the bathroom and there cut both his and her own throats. A trained nurse who was attending her tried to enter the room, but failed. She gained entrance by the window and found the mother in a dying condition. The ittle boy had sufficient strength to get out of the bathroom and died in his father’s arms.