AWFUL TRAGEDY

Southland Times, Issue 22471, 6 November 1934, Page 8

AWFUL TRAGEDY

FAMILY WIPED OUT PARENTS AND TWO CHILDREN SHOT WITH RIFLE (Per United Press Association.) Hamilton, November 5. An entire family was wiped out in a shocking domestic tragedy which occurred on a small dairy farm at Horsham Downs, five miles from Hamilton at 11.30 this morning. The victims were: Harry T. Rogers, aged 26, a farmer. Marion Isabel Golden Rogers, aged about 26, his wife. Barbara Rogers, aged two and a-half. Nola Rogers, aged 10 months. The first indication that anything was amiss came when a 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 two rooms of the cottage. Without investigating further he rushed back to get a neighbour, G. M. Williamson. The latter went across to Rogers’ cottage and there found all the members of the family dead. Rogers was lying on his face in a bedroom with a pearifle partly underneath him. In the same room, lying in a cot, was the child Barbara. 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 pearifle. The body of Mrs Rogers, which also contained a pearifle bullet, was found lying face upwards in the washhouse. It was 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 Rogers entered into occupation. Although not well-known in the district, they had been exceedingly popular with all with whom they had come in contact. Williamson stated this afternoon that Rogers visited his farm (about a mile away) at 11 o’clock this morning to return 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 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 the clothes line and there was another tub full of washing in the washhouse where Mrs Rogers met her death.

Investigations by the police at Rogers’ farm this afternoon point to the theory of triple murder and suicide, no notes or any indication of Rogers’ intentions being 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.