WAIKATO TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1934, Page 8

WAIKATO TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST WORRIES OF THE HUSBAND. STATEMENT BY RELATIVE. Hamilton, Nov. 6. The inquests into the deaths of Henry xudor Rogers, aged 25, farmer, of Hors ham Downs, Marion Isabella Goulden Rogers, aged 27, his wife, and their two children, Barbara Edith Rogers, aged two years, and Nola Marion Rogers, aged six months, were opened before the coroner, Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., to-day. The deceased were found dead in their home, a small farm cottage, at Horsham Downs, yesterday with bullet wounds in their heads. Before coming to the Waikato three years ago H. T. Rogers, was employed on contracting and farming work in the King Country. Mrs. Rogers had lived at Palmerston North, Taihape and Te Kuiti before her marriage. Giving evidence at the inquests David William Wyatt Shepherd, farm hand, Horsham Downs, said that for the last three months he had been working for his brother-in-law, Henry Tudor Rogers. Witness identified the bodies of his brother-in-law, his sister and their two children at the hospital mortuary. Witness occupied a room away from deceased’s home. Rogers had married his sister three years ago. , A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. Witness went into the Rogers’ house at 11.30 a.m. yesterday and had a cup of tea with his sister. His brother-in-law was away at the time, having gone to Mr. J. M. Williamson’s farm to return some wire strainers which he had borrowed. Nola, the infant, was in a perambulator, and Barbara was in her cot in the bedroom. Mrs. Rogers was happy and well, and as far as witness knew nothing had occurred to upset her. When witness and his sister had had a cup of tea, his brother-in-law returned. Witness asked him to have a cup of tea, Rogers said he would, and witness left the house. Mrs. Rogers was then in the wash-house washing clothes. Witness went to Williamson’s to obtain a box for some pigs which he intended to take to the market on the following day. He was away for half an hour. When he returned he saw Mrs. Rogers lying on the wash-house floor. She had been shot through the head. Nola was in her perambulator in the kitchen had been shot in the head. Rogers was lying dead on the floor of the bedroom. Witness hurried to Mr. Williamson’s farm and reported what he had found. He also telephoned for the police. INTEREST ON MORTGAGE PAID. The pea-rifle found in the. house near Rogers’ body was owned by witness’ brother, Leonard Batt Shepherd, of Cam- ■ bridge. Rogers purchased a packet of cartridges on October 30. Rogers told him there were no bullets available on Sunday last. The relations between Rogers and his wife were happy and friendly, and witness had never heard of any trouble between them. Rogers was very fond of his wife and children. Leonard Shepherd and his wife visited the Rogers on Sunday. Prior to their arrival Rogers was very depressed, but he was much more cheerful later. Rogers was prone to worry about trifles. He was not unusually depressed on the morning of the tragedy. Rogers had told him that he could not see how he could make the farm pay. Rogers had no occasion to worry, but the finances of the farm did worry him. Assuming that Rogers shot his wife.and children, and then shot himself, witness could assign no reason for the. deed. Rogers owned a farm of 55 acres, on which he milked 25 cows. The farm was bought for £26 an acre, but no deposit was paid. Mr. E. N. Miller, Hamilton, was the mortgagee. Rogers had paid the last quarterly -instalment of interest, and he had sufficient money to pay the next quarter’s interest when it became due. The inquests were adjourned.