DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8691, 6 November 1934, Page 3

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

WHOLE FAMILY FOUND DEAD PARENTS AND TWO CHILDREN MURDER AND SUICIDE? By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, This Day. A shocking domestic tragedy involving the destruction of an entire family, man, wife and two children, occurred at a small dairy farm at Horsham Downs yesterday forenoon. The victims wore as follows; Harry T. Rogers, aged 26, farmer; Marion Isabel Golden Rogers, aged about 26, his wife; Barbara Rogers, aged two and a-half years; Nola Rogers, aged 10 months.

The first indication that anything was amiss came when Mr Whyte Shepherd, a brother of Mrs Rogers, who is employed by Mr James McFarlano Williamson, a neighbouring farmer, called at the Rogers’ cottage at about 12.30 p.m. Ho was shocked to find his sister lying dead in the wash-house, which adjoins the two rooms of the cottage. Without investigating further he rushed back to get Mr Williamson. The latter went across to the Rogers' cottage and there found that all members of the family were dead. Mr Rogers was lying on his face in the bedroom with a .22 pea rifle partly underneath him.

In the same room lying in a cot was the two and a-half year old child IJfjrbara, also dead. The body of the baby, Nola, was found in a pram in the kitchen. All the victims had been shot at close range with a pea-rifle. The body of Mrs Rogers, which also contained a pea-rifle bullet, was found lying on her back in the washhouse, it being obvious that she was shot while engaged in washing. Later investigations by the police point to the theory of a triple murder and suicide, no notes or any indication of Rogers' intention being found.

Mrs Rogers had returned only a few days ago from a holiday with the children.