CHILDREN SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25051, 15 November 1944, Page 4

CHILDREN SHOT

FOUR DEAD IN BEDS

FATHER BEFORE COURT

MOTHER IN HOSPITAL (P.A.) NELSON, Tuesday Four children were found dead in their beds at Tasman, eight miles from Motueka, last evening, and their father, Alan Stuart James, orchardist, aged 38, was charged in the Nelson Magistrate's Court this morning with murder. He was remanded for seven days. The children, two boys and two girls, whose ages ranged from six months to seven years, had been shot with a shotgun. Scene of the Tragedy Between seven and eight o'clock last night Mrs Marjory Eleanor James, wife of the accused, made her way to the adjoining orchard property of Mr Frank Alack, formerly a guide at Mount Cook, in a seriously injured condition. Soon afterward Mr Alack received a telephone call from James, who wanted to go to Mr Alack's house. Mr Alack met James on the latter's property, where they waited until the arrival of the police, who found the bodies of the four children in the house, three in one room and the baby in a cot in its parents' room. The names of the children were: Eleanor Mary Stuart James, aged seven; Coran James, aged five; Berwyn James, aged three; and Alan Murray James, aged six months. Mrs James was later taken to the Nelson Hospital, where her condition was reported this morning as serious. Statement by Police In the Magistrate's Court James was formally charged with the murder of the eldest child, Eleanor Mary Stuart James. Sergeant J. R. Corston stated that about 11 o'clock last night the accused was arrested at Tasman. It was found that his four children, whose ages ranged from seven years to six months, had been shot, and his wife was in a serious condition in hospital. "The accused had been seen this morning by the superintendent of the mental hospital, the sergeant said. It was probable that representations would be made to have the accused transferred from gaol to an institution where he could be given the medical attention which, it was considered, the case warranted. , , _ _ ~ Asked by Mr G. A. Edmonds, J.P., if he' wished to question the police, the accused said: "Believe me, I am perfectly sane. I don't know why I did it." The accused was remanded until next Tuesday.