MURDER AND SUICIDE?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 6 November 1934, Page 9

MURDER AND SUICIDE?

WHOLE FAMILY DEAD HORSHAM TRAGEDY ALL shot at close range (For Press Association.) HAMILTON, last night. Tho first indication of the shocking domestic tragedy which occurred on a small dairyj&mn at Horsham Downs, five miles frroi Hamilton, this morning—in which tho victims were Harry T. Rogers, 26, a farmer; Marion Isabel Golden Rogers, about 26, his wife; Barbara Rogers, 2j years ; and Nola Rogers, 10 months—cauio when Mr. Shepherd, a brother of Mrs. Rogers, who is employed on the Rogers’ farm, called at the cottage at 12.30 p.m. ~He was shocked to find his sister lying dead in the washhouse, which adjoins the two rooms of the. cottage. Without investigating further, he rushed back to get a neighbor, Mr. G. M. Williamson. The latter went across to. tho Rogers’ cottage, and there found all tho members of the family dead. Rogers was lying on his face in the bedrootn with a pea rifle partly underneath him. In the same room lying in a cot was the child 'Barbara, and 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 Dying on her back in the washhouse. It „rwas obvious that she was shot while engaged in washing. EXCEEDINGLY POPULAR FAMILY The Rogers family had been on the farm since last June. The farm is 60 acres in extent, and 50 cows aro milked. Tho house had been erected when the Rogers family went into occupation. Although not well known in tho district, they 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 11 o’clock this morning to return some wire strainers he had borrowed. He was then quite normal and gave no indication of any stress or worry.

It is stated, however, that Rogers wasa man given to worry. He had been in a depressed state for some time, and is said to have suffered financial worries.

Several articles of clothing were found hanging on the clothes line, and there was another tub full of washing in the washhouse, where Mrs. Rogers met her death.

Investigations by the police this afternoon point to* the theory of triple murder and suicide. No notes of any indication of Roger’s intentions were found. Mrs. Rogers returned only a few days ago from a holiday with the children. There is no access to the house except over paddocks. .