MOTIVE FOR CRIME

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11658, 24 October 1923, Page 5

MOTIVE FOR CRIME

SOLUTION STILL UNRAVELLED. STATEMENT BY TRUANT OFFICER Per Pro** A*w»clnHon WAIHI, October 23. The widely-circulated statement that resentment, caused by the receipt of a letter from the truant officer, ordering Higgins to send liifl son to school, was responsible for the appalling tragedy nt Wuikino on Friday forenoon last, when two schoolboys were shot dead and six other persons wounded by John Christopher Higgins, appears to have arisen through the fact that the officer in question (Mr H. S. Small) happened to be. in the district at the time and had 'been known to have previously prosecuted Higgins for breaches of the school attendance regulations. It was, however, without foundation that the truant officer had prosecuted Higgins for not sending his boy to school, and nt one hearing the man had, in extenuation, informed the court that his reason for not sending his son to school waa that he could teach him at home far bettor than could a school teacher. Asked as to whether the prosecution in question had followed a complaint from the master of the Waikino school (Mr Robert T. Reid), the school attendance officer replied m the negative. Mr Reid, he went on to say, had at no time made representations to the Auckland Education Board or to himself, concerning the failure of Higgins to send his Txiy to school. IMAGINARY GRIEVANCE POSSIBLE.

The truant officer’s statement thus reopens the question as to the motive for tho crime, und the solution cannot lie looked for until .such time as Mr Reid’s condition has sufficiently improved to adniit of his detailing his conversation with Higgins, prior to the

shooting on Friday last, or until the prisoner makes a statement, if then. It is. of course, still possible that accused' nursed an imaginary grievance against the schoolmaster, believing that Mr . Reid _ had instigated proceedings against him; but if so, it is now evident that he sought to take the life of one who had not even lodged it complaint such as he would' have been justified in doing. This is made cleat by Mr Small’s statement. HIGGINS ALLEGES PERSECUTION. It may further be said that the motive for the crime is, for the time being, made more difficult of solution by the information given to the police by Higgins during a conversation while iri tlio Waihi lockup. In this lie admitted having an argument with Mr Reid before shooting him, but did not re member what tho argument was about, also that he told the master that he had been persecuted at his farm. He went on to say to the poiicc that he ■had a feeling that lie must do something, but did not know why he went to the school. As to why lie had shot children, he. said: “I must have been crazy. I am sorry for tho families upon whom J have brought grief, but T am not sorry for myself.’•

INJURED CONDITION IMPROVED. The hospital reports to-day that there is some further improvement in the condition of Mr Reid, headmaster. Constable Olsen, and tho hoy Bustard, but they are not yet out of dangtw.