The Farm Tragedy

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19407, 6 November 1934, Page 8

The Farm Tragedy

FAMILY’S VIOLENT END.

MURDER-SUICIDE THEORY.

BROTHER-IN-LAW’S EVIDENCE.

“ WOULD WORRY OVER TRIFLES.’’

Little fresh light on any motive behind the shocking tragedy resulting In the slaying of the Rogers family at Horsham Downs yesterday emerged at the opening of the Inquest on the four de r ceased, before the District Coroner, Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., at Hamilton this morning.

David William Wyatt Shepherd, farm hand, of Horsham Downs, aged 19 years, said lie had been working for Rogers, his brother-in-law, for the last three months. Witness identified the bodies of his ibrother-in-law, his sister, and their two children, at the Waikato Hospital mortuary. Witness said he occupied a room in an outbuilding 'On the farm. At 11.30 a.m. yesterday witness went into the Rogers' house and had a cup of tea with his sister. Rogers was then over at Williamson’s farm returning some wire strainers he had borrowed. .Nola, the baby, was in a pram and Barbara, the little girl, was in her cot in the bedromn. His sister was happy and well, and witness knew of nothing that had happened to upset her. Rogers returned and also had a cup of tea. He then left the house. Mrs Rogers was washing clothes in the wash-house. Tragic Discovery. Witness went over to Williamson’s house to get a box for some pigs he intended taking to market. Half-an-hour later witness returned and he saw Mrs Rogers lying on the washhouse floor. She had been shot through the head. The infant Nola was in her pram in the kitchen and had been shot in the head. Rogers was lying dead on the floor of the bedroom. Witness .turned off the radio and ran to Williamson’s farm and told him what had happened. He also rang for the police. Witness' brother, Leonard Batt Shepherd, of Cambridge, owned the pea-rifle found near Rogers’ body, and it was used for shooting rabbits. On October 30 Rogers bought a packet of cartridges, but witness understood there were mono left.

Happy Domestlo Relations. The relation-s between Rogers and his wife ’ were always happy and friendly, witness continued. Witness had never heard of any trouble between them. Rogers was fond of his wife and family. Leonard Shepherd and his wife visited the Rogers on Sunday, and before their arrival Hogel’s was very depressed, but he was much more cheerful later. Rogers would often worry about trifles, hut he was not unusually depressed at the time of the tragedy. He had said he could not see how he could ever make the farm pay. He was often worried over financial matters. Rogers entered on the farm, which comprised 55 acres, about last June. The farm cost about £2B per acre but no deposit was paid w’hen it was purchased. The interest was payable quarterly and witness knew Rogers had paid the last instalment and had sufficient money to pay the next instalment when it was due. The inquest was adjourned sine die. NEIGHBOURS’ STORY. “ A LIKEABLE YOUNG MAN.” NO NOTICE OF INTENTIONS. Investigations by the police at the Rogers’ farm point to the theory of a triple murder and suicide. No notes or any indication of Rogers’ intentions were found.

Mrs Rogers had returned on Wednesday last from a holiday in Auckland with her mother. She had the children with her.

There is no access to the house except over paddocks and the bodies had to be conveyed to a mortuary van on a sledge. (Mr Williamson took over the milking of Rogers’ cows last evening and also provided a temporary home for Mr Shepherd, who is grief stricken and numbed with shock.

■Neighbours state that Rogers had informed them that there was a possibility of him being' shortly forced off the place. It was evident thal this had preyed upon his mind lately. Rogers was a likeable young man and was described as a wonderful worker. With his own hands he had erected the cottage and an adjacent shed, laid out a garden, constructed a cow shod and concrete floor, and erected a good deal of fencing. "A Nice, Young Fellow.” “He seemed a nice, 'fine young fellow,” said Mr W. J. .Silvester, a neighbour, commenting on Rogers. “I had spoken to him only two or three times, but he definitely was not the type of fellow to lose his head. He put in a great deal of work in making a farm after it had been subdivided. His wife, too, was a 'fine young woman and I cannot believe that this ghastly thing has really happened.” It appears that Rogers was milking 25 cows by hand, while he also ran a number of pigs. He is said to have s-pent some years in shepherding and to have accumulated a certain amount of capital which he sunk into the property. The Rogers were married about three years ago, and before going on the farm had lived in Killarney Road, Frankton.

THE LATE MRS ROGERS. WELL-KNOWN IN MANAWATU. ( fly Telegraph. —Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday. Mrs Rogers, one of the vi oft inis, was well known here prior to her marriage over three years ago as Miss .Marion Shepherd. Site was employed for two years by R. Hannah and Coinpany, hoot retailers. | After leaving Hannah and Company, she was for some time in ihe King Country, later returning here, when her marriage took place. She subsequently moved to. the Waikato.