WAIKINO MURDER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11661, 27 October 1923, Page 5

WAIKINO MURDER

** COME HERE TO DIE ” MR RKED RELATES HIS CONVERSATION WITH HIGGINS, VI,EADS FOR LAVES OF CHILDREN Per Press Association. WAIHI October 26. Hubert Theodore Rciu, one of the victims of the terrible tragedy at the Waikino Public- School on Friday last, when two lads were shot dead in the schoolhouse and eight others wounded, made a statement at the Waihi Hospital to-day. Mr Reid, who received a bullet through the jaw m his study and lay in a jyjol of his own blood for over two hours, is still in a serious condition. hut his anxiety to make a statement to get tire awfulness eff his mind induced tne doctor to let him speak. .Mr Herd looks ill and wasted, and broke down seveial times during the heartrending narrative. •HERE FOR REVENGE.” Mr Reid said Higgins entered the school at the back entrance, and said: “I am here lor revenge.” By his strained expression, Mr Reid knew something was wrong, and he ushered the man into the study, where he drew a revolver and made a gesture with it, and repeated, “I am here for revenge!” Mr Reid sought to soothe him, and the man saicl. w “They've persecuted me for fifteen years. One of my beasts is lying dead in a paddock now.” Mr Reid now recognised the man meant desperate mischief. Higgins proceeded: : •The world mis-used nie for fifteen years. I have done with it. I have come bore to die.” Reid started to plead with him for the lives of the children, but without avail. REVOLVER AND WATCH IN HAND With a revolver in one hand and a watch in the other, Higgins said, *‘l’vo given them mere time than I intendedr am wasting my time. Those hounds from Waihi and from down, below (meaning the Waihi Company’s battery) will have a string of men round me before I can finish the job. Reid, himself feeljng desperate, walked up to him. put his hand on the man’s shoulder, and saiti: ’"Higgins, what about your son John, and the wife?” He replied: "They must look after themselves.”

Suddenly, after consulting his watch, Higgins jumped to the study door, keeping Reid covered, and saic{: "You ire having them sneak out while you are keeping me here.” Reid walked up to him and began pleading again for the lives of the children, and was leaning towards him slightly. Higgins then said: “You will have it—then take it,” and fired. Reid crumpled up on the floor, and a great rush of blood filled hi§ mouth and nostrils. Later, he fell into unconsciousness. On regaining consciousness he could hear Higgins tramping round the classrooms, apparently looking for and •hooting at the children.

FURTHER DETAILS

A TRAGIC RECITAL BRAVE HEADMASTER AND TEACHERS. A later message from Waihi giv?s additional details of Mr Reid’s statement. Continuing Mr Rekl said he was first attracted to Higgins by his (Mr Reid’s) dog barking, a thing he had not done before, and looking out of the window ho saw that the dog was trying to prevent Higgins from entering the school. Mr Reid said : ”1 walked up to him and again began to plea. I was successful foj a time ana the odd listening look again left him. Then suddenly he started (at the moment I was leaning towards him slightly 1 and said *you will have it then, take it.’ A sfiot rung out, I recall clawing wildly at him and sank to the floor. I did not lose consciousness straight away and managed io struggle on to mv* knees. I tried to shout orders Higgins in the meantime had gone out and I heard a shot fired outside the vtudy. Then a groat rush of blood filled my mouth and nostrils choking me and for a time I knew no more. When I came to, I don’t know how long after, there was a strange sillness. The silence was absolute and then suddenly it was broken by the sound of children’s voices through the study window, and at about the same time I heard Higgins voice r-oitiewhew by the back door. 1 tried to move along the floor towards the window and found my right arm was paralysed. Struggling and rolling I got io the window and managed somehow to pull myself up to the ventilator and locking -nit, saw Mris Kindon stuuding near the school gate surrounded by a crowd of clinging chi!-’ dren and encouraging a little boy to run and hide. I waved my band with the idea cf getting them to run. Miss Kindon seemed to understand. Then great lumps of blood poured from my mouth and I dropped to the floor and became unconscious. HEARD A BOY GROANING

“On coming to I heard a boy groaning. It seemed in the porch. I could hear Higgins ru.nayiog under the school and talking to himself. I tried to crawl out to the boy but I don’t think I moved. I wanted to get to him to try and give him water. I then heard Higgins ascending the steps and then I beard a boy’s voice say ‘you shot me.’ Higgins replir-d in a quiet voice: Have I ray boy.’ I heard' Higgins take a couple of stride* follow, cd by the lev’s cry of fear. Then a shot rang out and a noise as if it fame from the hoy's throat and I know Higgins wan going round shooting the children.”

HOOKING FOR THE CHILDREN. At this point of the narrative Mi Reid completely broke down On recovering he resumed: ”1 heard Higgins talking to himself and start off the rouno of the class rooms. Look, ing, as I believed for hiding children and then I heard Higgins sav ‘there’s none le-it in tlio shelter shed"’ Then I hear 1 him tome towards the study, ha walked in and made straight for whrie I was lying. I felt him sloop down over me and examine me. ‘He's done for:-’ Higgins muttered to himself. He then went out of the study, and I heard him again tramping round the r,as.-,rooiiis. He returned presently whispering aml talking to himself all the while, and it .sounded to me as i! he wa-. throwing paper into the bottom of the library cupboard. lie the,, tn- d to jam me, feet first into the < u;.bo.ud. I believed hr- intended to get me into the eiipboimi and set fire to it. and I want, d to nek him to shoot but I ,oiild not .sneak. con, l> NOT SPEAK Olt .MOVE.

‘■•Suddenly lie Mo-med and Maud quietly over tie, then grabbing me the shnilldoir: lie pilJidd mo act. 1 -,ss the tioor.

T hoard him moving hurriedly to and fro shifting the furniture, and shortly after thorn came a wild yell from ouirrido and f knew tho men had comfc. From that on l was in a semi-conscious state, and when the men broke into the stu ly they walked evt v me but I could neither sneak nor move. I feci where I was trampled on and one of my legs is now being treated foi the injury received.