POISONING TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 10

POISONING TRAGEDY.

LOSS OF THREE LIVES:

MOTHER AND DAUGHTERS.

DISCOVERY AT KARAKA. DEATH AFTER A MEAL. RECOVERY OF LITTLE BOY. A poisoning tragedy, involving the death of a mother and her two young daughters, occurred at Karaka, nine miles from Papakura, on Tuesday afternoon. Details of the victims aro:— Mary Minnie Blackwell, wife of Herbert John Blackwell, aged 56 years. Marjorie Doreen Blackwell, aged 14 years. Muriel Mercla Blackwell, aged 11 years. Harold Gordon Blackwell, Mrs. Blackwell's 6i-year-old son, also suffered slightly from poisoning, but now appears to have completely recovered. The scene of tho tragedy was a neat, four-roomed cottage on the farm of Messrs. Arthur Yates and Company, Limited, seed merchants. The mother, her daughters and son were the only persons in the house at the time. Mr. Blackwell, who is employed on the farm, had gone to Papakura early in tho morning as drover to a flock of sheep. A Note from the Mother. Following the mid-day meal, which comprised apricots and blanc mange, the family beCame violently ill. The first inkling of a tragedy was conveyed to the outside world by a note, written on an envelope and brought to the house of Mr. Frederick Yates, who manages the property, by the little boy Blackwell. The note read: "Please ring Dr. Page." The boy was unable to throw much light on the purport of the message, except that' his mother had given it to him. Mr. Yates' telephone was out of order, so he proceeded to the residence of a neighbour, Mr. Lindsay, and the message was telephoned to Dr. J. B. Page at Papakura. ' The doctor was the first to make the shocking discovery. Arriving at the house about 3 p.m., he found the mother dead on a couch in the kitchen, and„the two girls lying m the bedroom. The younger girl was dead, and the elder girl, who was in violent convulsions, died shortly after the doctor's arrival. All were fully dressed, nothing in the house was dis turbed, and there was no sign of a struggle. Strychnine Kept on Farm. Mr. Blackwell did not learn of the tragedy until he was told late in the afternoon by Dr. Page, who also informed Constable T. Hammond, of Papakura. The constable communicated with Sergeant G. T. Cowan, of Pukekohe, in whose district the tragedy occurred, and Constables Allen and O'Donnell proceeded to the scene, standing by all night. Detective-Sergeant A. Hammond and Detectives J. Bickerdike and F. SinclaiV, of Auckland, went to Karaka yesterday morning, and the bodies were later removed to Auckland. Strychnine was kept on the farm for the purpose of destroying rabbits. About a year ago, Mr. Yates said yesterday, Mrs. Blackwell had, unknown to him, taken some strychnine from Ms place. She later returned it, explaining that she had mixed it with the food, but had then "come to her senses." Woman's Recent Hi-health. Mr. Blackwell said his wife had complained of pain on Monday, and he had rubbed her back for her that evening. The pain had been particularly acute during the past three weeks, and she had threatened to "do away with the family." In spite of her ill-health, Mrs. Blackwell attended to her household duties with scrupulous care. From tho point of view of cleanliness, it was a model home. The cottage stands on a private road, which runs through tho farm, and is about half a mile from Mr. Yates' home. The next neighbour, Mr. D. Moore, lives about half a milo further along the road. A Secluded Life.

Mrs. Blackwell led a somewhat secluded life. She was in Auckland last Thursday and frequently walked to Papakura, but months sometimes elapsed during which her neighbours never came in contact with her.

The family has been in the district tor about three years, and the children attended the Te Hihi School. • Marjorie was in Standard VI., Muriel in Standard IV., while Gordon only recently commenced his school life.

Although difficult of access at present, owing to the sea of mud on the private road, the house is by no means isolated. The Manukau Harbour and prominent natural landmarks near the city are within view, and the appropriate legend, "Seavicw Cottage," is fastened to the front gate.

Mrs. Blackwell was born in New Zealand, her maiden name being Volant. She was married in 1912.

An inquest will be opened before Mr. F. K. Hunt, coroner, this morning, but is expected to be adjourned after the taking of formal evidenco." A post-mortem examination of the bodies has been ordered.