DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 July 1933, Page 5

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

MOTHER AND CHILD DEAD. WELLINGTON, Friday. The drowning of a five-year-old boy at Point Halswell early this morning, and the rescue of his father from the water at Tliorndon this afternoon, led the police to visit a flat in Wellington, where they found the dead body of the child’s mother. Tlie victims are:— Dead: Mrs Janes, aged about 40; and her 5-year-ol dson. At hospital: George Janes; acxd 54. Tfle.fi'ixin which the three persons ■lived-'is ;at• tile: r bottom of a;.'tlireestoried house at 27 Ohiro Road. The bottom storey is well below the level of "the'- road. • • •• While gathering mussels in the vicinity of Point Halswell shortly after midday, a man found the body of the child on the rocks, at'about high-Water mark. Apparently the boy had been drowned some time earlier in the morning. The boy’s parents were not known until several hours later. At about 1.30 p.m., cries were heard from a man struggling in the water near the Thorndon breastwork. Men nearby pulled him out unconscious, and lie was taken to the hospital, where he was identified as George Janes. He ds making satisfactory progress. The police connected neither the child nor the man with the house at Ohiro Read until an occupant of the top flat, hearing of a man named Janes being found in the harbour, rang the station. When a constable arrived at the flat they found tlie dead body of Mrs Janes. It is understood that neighbours heard cries from a woman and child in the flat just before 7 o ’clock this morning. The cries lasted for about four minutes, but as there were no shouts for help no attempt was made to interfere. A little later a man and child were seen, leaving the house. The three occupants had been living in the house for only a fortnight.—(P.A.)