MURDER AND SUICIDE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 5

MURDER AND SUICIDE

MADMAN’S TERRIBLE CRIME

A SHOCKING AFFAIR AT INVERCARGILL. THREE CHILDREN KILLED. rBEB9 ASSOCIATION. INVERCARGILL, April 8. A shocking tragedy was committed in South invercargill early this morning. James Reid Baxter, a seed merchant, aged forty-five, attempted to murder his wife and family, ne partly succeeded in his attempts, and then blew his brains out. Tho tragedy was evidently premeditated, tho victims being attacked with an axo while asleep.

Basil, aged nine; Roy, aged four; and Ronald, aged two, are actad. Phyllis, aged eleven, a baby aged sis weeks, and the mother, thirty-seven years of age, are in tue hospital, and hopes of their recovery arc slight.

OPENING OF AN INQUIRY.

HOW THE BODIES WERE FOUND. An inquest was opened in tho afternoon before Mr IV. A. Stout, J.P. Sergeant Mathieson, who _ conducted tho inquiry for the police, said the only evidence he proposed to call at this stage was that of Mr McLean, who would identify the bodies. Ho would then uric for an adjournment to see whether Mrs Baxter would be able to give any evidence. Archibald McLean, chief missionary in Invercargill, said: "I roeifto next door to the house occupied by the deceased, and I was intimately acquainted with him and his family. The two boys lying dead in the front room are Basil and Roy. and tho one in the back bedroom is Ronald. 1 heard a noise or disturbance last night. I noticed nothing unusual in Mr Baxter's manner lately. Between 10.45 end II this morning I went to the front window of the house, raised the blind, and saw tho bodies of Baeil and Roy. I then telephone! for tho police. Mrs Baxter, the baby, and Phyllis wore lemoved to the hospital. I accompanied tho Sergeant into tho house. Entering by tho front window, wo made n hurried examination of tho two bodies in the front room and found life extinct. In the room immediately behind it Roy was dead in the bed, and Phyllis was on the floor alive, but unconscious. “We next entered Mrs Baxter’s bedroom. As we went in she raised herself, turned towards the door, and said, 'What is the matter?' and sank back unconscious. The baby was in its cot alongside, conscious. Looking through the bathroom window and seeing a body in tho bath, we burst open the door, and fofind Baxter lying in the bath, which was full of water. Baxter was dead, and was holding the gun produced in one hand, the muzzle pointing towards his feet, the gun contained a discharged cartridge in the breech. Tho inquest was then adjourned till next Tuesday at 7 p.m. in tho Courthouse, but if Mrs Baxter is not then in a condition to give evidence the inquest will be further adjourned.