WAIKINO TRAGEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17181, 26 October 1923, Page 8

WAIKINO TRAGEDY.

STATEMENT BY REID 9 i —• getting awfulness off HIS MIND. f. ft Per Press Association. AYA [HI, October 26. "Robert Theodore Reid, one of the '"let of tho terrible tragedy at the Waikino Public School, on Friday last, when two lads were shot dead in the school house, and eight others we rewounded, made a statement at AVaihi Hjospital to-day. ( *Reid, who received a bullet through the jaw while in his study, lay in a pool of his own blood for over two hours. He is still in a .serious condition, but his anxiety to make a statement “to get the awfulness off his mind,” induced tho doctor to Jet him speak. s*,Beid looks ill and wasted. He experienced difficulty in speaking, and broke down several times during his heartrending narrative. Higgins entered the school at the back entrance, Reid said., and said. “ 1 am here for revenge.” By his strained expression he knew that something was wrong, and ho ushered the man into his study, where he drew a revolver and made a gesture with it, and repeated, “ I am here for revenge.” Mr R?id sought to smooth him. and the man said. “They’ve persecuted me for fifteen years; one of my beasts is lying dead in a paddock now.” Reid now recognised that the man meant desperate mischief. Higgins proceeded: ‘‘The world misused me for fifteen years. I have done with it. I have come here to die.” Reid started to plead with him for the lives of the children, but without avail. With a revolver in one hand and a watch in the other Higgins said: “I've given them more time than I intended, jam wasting my time. Those hounds from Waihi and from down below (meaning the Waihi's company's battery) will have a string of men around me before I can finish the job.” Reid, himself feeling desperate, walked up to him and put his hand on the man’s shoulder and said: “Higgins, what about your son John and the wife ? ” He replied: “ They' must look after themselves.” Suddenly, after consulting his watch, * Higgins jumped to the study door and keeping Reid covered, he said: “ You are having them sneaked out, while you are keeping me here.” Reid walked up to him and began pleading again for the lives of the children and was leaning towards him slightly. Higgins‘then said: “You will have to take it then,” and fired. crumpled upon the floor and a and nostrils. Later he fell into uncongreat rush of blood filled his mouth sciousness. On regaining consciousness he could hear Higgins tramping around the class rooms apparently looking for, and shooting at the children.