“HERE FOR REVENGE”

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6408, 30 October 1923, Page 4

“HERE FOR REVENGE”

HIGGIN’S FIRST WORDS WAIKINO TEACHER’S STORY DRAMATIC SCENE IN SCHOOL DELUSION OF PERSECUTION A statement was made by Mr Reid, headmaster of the Waikino School, in the Waihi Hospital last week, before Senior-Sergeant O’Grady, relative to the recent tragedy, describing in the most dramatic manner the meeting with Higgins and the subsequent shooting. Mr Reid, who was shot through the jaw, and is suffering paralysis of the right arm, appeared at times in great pain. Showing great emotion, Mr Reid said: “I want to make the statement and then forget it. I do not want to think about it.”

Proceeding, he said he had been at Waikino eight years. “On the morning of the tragedy the classes had just settled down to work when my attention was attracted by the challenging bqrk of my dog. I looked through my window, and saw the dog trying to prevent Higgins from entering the school from the back entrance.

“I went to the door to quieten the dog, and had to speak forcibly to do so. Higgins,” Mr Reid went on, “walked in the door and immediately said to me :‘I am here for revenge.’ He had such a peculiar strained look on his face, that I saw something was wrong, and shepherded him as quickly as possible into my study and closed the door. He drew \a revolver from a pouch at his side, made a gesture with it, and repeated his vUords: “I am here for revenge” I sought to soothe him, and asked him to tell me all about it.”

He replied, “They have persecuted me for 15 years. One of my beasts is lying dead in the paddock now. I know it’s that that has done it. I have no wish to hurt you. You are one of the three men in this world whom I respect.” He then said, “Get out. Go where you like. Go and ring up the police, if you like, and - tell them what lam doing.’ I thought for the moment that he had come to shoot some horses belonging to the Rowlands family, which might at that moment be in the paddock. I suggested that it was inadvisable for him to take the law into his own hands, but that I would go with him to the post office at Waikino ring up the sergeant and stay by him while a thorough investigation was made. PLEADED FOR THE CHILDREN

“In reply he cursed the poliee, made a gesture with the revolver, and said: ‘You must be very dense this morning, not to know what I am after.’ I immediately saw the man meant desperate mischief, and I was horror-stricken. Higgens said: ‘The world has misused me for fifteen years. I have done with it. I have come here to die. lam not afraid to stand before my God.’ “I started to plead with him for the lives of the children. I don’t know how long I spoke, and I seemed to be having some effect. The strained sort of listening look which Higgins had, began to leave his face, and his revolver was moved back to the sheath. A DRAMATIC CLIMAX “I pleaded, I cajoled, and thought I had secured his attention, when suddenly he seemed to listen. The revolver was whipped out again, and also his watch in the other hand. ‘I have given you more tome thin I intended,’ he time. Those hounds from Waihi and from dowp below (iheaning the Waihi Company’s battery and waving his revolver towards the direction of the latter) will have a string of men round me before I can finish the job.’ I was desperate myself. I looked him straight in the face, walked straight up to him, put my hands on his shoulder, and shook him gently and said: ‘Higgins, what about son John and the wife'?’ He replied: ‘They must look after themselves,’ and, looking at his watch, he said: ‘I have given you twenty-five minutes, and I would have given that time to no other man in the world.’

“Suddenly he jumped'to the door of the study, keeping me covered with the revolver, and said: ‘You are having them sneaked out while keeping me here.’ (Mr Reid here showed great emotion.) I walked up to him and started to plead again. I was successful for a time, and the old listening look left him. Then, in three seconds, he suddenly started. I was leaning towards him. ‘You will have It > Higgins said, and he then fired. I can remember clawing wildly at him and going down to the floor. 1 did not lose consciousness straight away, but managed to struggle to my Irnees and tried to shout orders. I

heard one shot outside the study. (Higgins had left the room and closed the door.) My mouth then filled with a great rush of blood, choking me, and I remembered no more for a time. AFTER THE FIRST SHOT “When I came too,” continued Mr Reid, “there was a very strange silence, and then suddenly I heard the sound of children’s voices through the study window, and about the same time Higgins’ voice somewhere by the back door. I tided to move towards the window, and found my right arm paralysed. Struggling, I got-to the window and managed to pull myself up to the ventilator, and looked. Miss Kendon (one of the teachers) stood near the school gate surrounded by a crowd of climbing children, encouraging a little boy to run. I waved my hands for the children to run for the corner. Great jets of blood then came into my mouth, and I dropped again. I don’t know how much longer after I heard the voice of a boy groaning. It seemed -to be in the porch, and I could still hear Higgins under the school talking to himself. I tried to crawl out to the boy, but do not think I moved. I heard Higgins ascend the stairs. A HORRIBLE MOMENT “A boy’s voice said ‘You have shot me.’ Higgins said, in a quiet voice, ‘Have I, my boy?’ I could hear a couple of steps taken, a boy’s cry of fear, and then a shot rang out, and I heard a spasmodic cry and I knew the boy was shot. “Higgins then went round all the class rooms, talking to himself and looking for children hiding. I heard him say, ‘There’s none left in the shelter shed, then.’ I heard him come towards the study and he walked straight over to where I was lying. I felt him stoop over me and examine me. He said, ‘He is done for.’ He went out of the study and I heard him tramping round the class rooms. aLone WITH ARMED MANIAC

“He came in presently, whispering and talking to himself, and to me it seemed he threw some papers in the bottom of the library cupboard. I heard him mutter, ‘they will burn well.’ He then seized me by the feet, dragged me over to the library, and tried to jam me in, feet foremost. Suddenly he stopped and stood quietly over me for a while. Then grabbing me by the shoulder he pulled me across the floor somewhere. I heard him hurriedly moving to and fro, shifting furniture, and shortly after heard a mad yell from outside. I knew the men had then come. I lapsed into a semi-conscious state. I heard the Sergeant speaking to, and then arrest Higgins.”—“Star.”