SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12794, 6 November 1934, Page 5

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

FAMILY WIPED OUT. ANOTHER TRIPLE MURDER? Electric Telegra.pt.—Tress Association HAMILTON Last Night. All entire family was wiped out in a shocking domestic tragedy which occurred on a small dairy-farm atHorsham Downs. five miles from Hamilton, at 11.30 this morning. The victims were:— Harry T. Rogers, aged 26, a farmer. Marion Isabel Golden Rogers, about 26, his wife. Barbara Rogers, aged 2$ years. Nola, Rogers, 10 months. The first indication that anything was amiss came when Mr Shepherd, a brother of Mrs Rogers, who is employed on Rogers’ farm, called at the cottage at 12.30 p.m. He was shocked to find his sister lying dead in tho washhouse, which adjoins the two rooms of the cottage. Without investigating further he rushed back to get a neighbour, Mr G. M. Williamson. The latter went across to the Rogers’ cottage, and there found all members of the. family dead. Rogers was lying on his face in the bedroom with a pea-rifle partly underneath him. In the same rooni, lying in a cot, was the child. Barbara, while the dead body of the baby Nola, was found in a pram in the kitchen. All the victims had been shot at close range with a pea-rifle. The body of Mrs Rogers, which also contained a pea-rifle bullet, was found lying on her back in the washhouse. It wa« obvious that she was shot while engaged in washing. They had been on the farm since last June. The farm is 50 acres in extent, milking 50 cows. The house had been erected when the Rogers entered into occupation. Although not well known in the district, thev had been exceedingly popular with all with whom they had come in contact. Mr Williamson stated this afternoon that Rogers visited his farm (about a mile away) at IT o’clock tbi s morning to return wire-strainers he had borrowed. He was then quite normal and gave no indications of any stress or worry. It is stated, however, that Rogers was a man given to worry and had been in a depressed state for some time. He is said to have suffered financial worries. Several articles of clothing were found hanging on a clothes-line, and there was another tub full of washing in the washhouse, where Mrs Rogers met- her death. Investigations by the police on the Rogers’ farm this afternoon point to the theory of triple murder and suicide. No notes or any indication ol Rogers’ intentions were found. Mrs Rogers returned onlv a few days ago from a holiday with the children. There is no access to the house except over the paddocks.