TRAGEDY AT KAIAPOI

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 70

TRAGEDY AT KAIAPOI

MAN AND WIFE FOUND DEAD. A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. CHRISTCHURCH. May 12 Mr and Mrs James Holland, of Kaiapoi, were found dead in their house this afternoon. The wife's body was found insido the front door, with a ropo round tho mouth, and tiro husband's body was found in a washhouse at tho back of tho house, with a rope round tho nccii. A peculiar circumstance is that the ropes were cut, and thero is no indication either that the man hanged himself or the woman. Constable Holmes, of Kaiapoi, immediately communicated with Superintendent Dwyer, who despatched Chief Detective -tlerbcrt and Detective Sergeant Hunt to •ivaianoi to investigate tho affair. - Mv and Mrs Holland were well known and respected residents of Kaiapoi. Mrs Holland was tho second wife of Mr Holland, who has a grown-up family, none of whom live in Kaiapoi. The discovery of the bodies followed upon an insurance agent calling at Holland's house between 2 and 3 o'clock this afternoon. A little child answered the door when the insurance agent knocked, and from ™ lld ho ]carn cd what had happened. Mr Holland was about 74 years of age, t l W j IS a native ot Olaro, County Down, Ireland. He came to tho dominion in tho ship Mermaid in 1868, and followed farming pursuits until the disposal of his land to a, freezing company. The child seen by the insurance agent was tho only child of the second marriage. It was running hi and out of the house when tho agent saw it. and ho then went in to find out about the matter. mi ,• ,• , Ma y 13. lho police found a bar of iron near the scene of the tragedy, which they think was the weapon used. On Thursday Mr Holland came to town and cashed a cheque for £IOOO. He took the money to Kaiapoi, where the bank was specially opened to enable him to deposit it at once. This may give a cluo to the motive for the crime. Tho examination into the Kaiapoi tragedy, conducted to-day, shows that Mrs Holland was evidently attacked in the yard, outside tho back door, and then dragged head foremost into the house. Holland, it is presumed, was attacked in the trap shed, where the body was found. He had evidently fought hard for life, as an arm was dislocated in two places. The tragedy probably occurred in the evening on Thursday. A considerable amount of circumstantial evidence bearing out the assumption that Holland brought £IOOO from Christchurch on Thursday afternoon in a small brown bag, appears likely that he made no secret of the fact that lie had a large sum of money in his possession. On previous occasions when he had large sums he had shown the money to friends and acquaintances. About £lO in cash was in the pockets when tho body was discovered. The little boy, Cyril Holland, was brought to Christchurch, a relative taking care of him. The result of the post mortem examination fGund that Mrs Holland suffered a fracture of the skull over tho right eye, and Holland a fracture of the skull at the top of his head and back of his head. The weapon used is supposed to have been a short length of piping found under the house. It is suggested in the Kaipaoi district that the Government should offer a substantial reward for the apprehension of the murderer. An inquest was formally opened last evening before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, district coroner, when evidence was given identifying the bodies. The innuest, on the application of Chief cietective Herbert, was adjourned until Wednesday, Mn-r 0\ CHRISTCHURCH. May 15. There are no fresh developments in re- „ ' -., fU- ir . :.,,-,„• murder obsp. The pol : ce are pursuing their investigations along many lines. The general theory is that the obtaining of Mr Holland's money was the motive for the crime.