Murdered family

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19412, 12 November 1934, Page 8

Murdered family

TRAGEDY ON'FARM.

RESUMPTION OF INQUEST. BEHAVIOUR OF HUSBAND. A tragio story was unfolded at the adjourned Inquests at Hamilton this afternoon Into, the deaths of Henry Tudor Rogers (25), farmer, of Horsham Downs, Marion Isabella Goulden Rogers (27), his wife and Barbara Edith Rogers (2J) and Nola Marion Rogers (six months), their two children. All were found shot on the farm last Monday under circumstances which suggested that Rogers had murdered his family and then committed suicide. Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., was the Coroner, and Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson led the depositions. James MoFarlane Williamson, farmer, of Horsham Downs, said he had known Rogers for the past five months. Deceased visited his farm about 11 a.m. last Monday morning to return some wire-strainers he ''had borrowed. He spoke of general farm work. Half-an-'hour later Wyatt Shepherd, who resided with the Rogers, called at his farm to get a box in which to carry pigs. Shepherd hurriqd back 20 minutes later and said: “I think they’re all shot. My sister’s dead in the wash-house.” Witness returned with Shepherd to the farm and found Mrs Rogers had been shot in the wash-house. The baby Nola had been shot through the head in her pram in the kitchen. In the bedroom witness saw Rogers on the floor, apparently dead, while the girl Barbara had been shot in her cot. Witness saw a pea-rifle near Rogers, which he removed. Rogers had been lying over the rifle, the muzzle pointing towards his face. Continuing, witness said he removed the rifle because he thought something might happen to Shepherd, who was very worried at the time. He had found Rogers a depressed type of man, who was always worrying about his farm. He seemed to be very attached to his wife and children and so far as witness knew there had been no domestic troubles between them. Rogers had never Intimated any intention of taking his life or the lives of his family. Coroner’s Comment. The Coroner commented that, generally speaking, it was not desirable when persons were found dead under circumstances indicating a crime that bodies or objects such as a rifle should be shifted or touched until the arrival of the police or a doctor. It might bo necessary under exceptional circumstances to do so; for instance, a body should he moved if necessary to ascertain whether the person was alive. "In this case Mr Williamson removed a rifle and in ordinary circumstances that would he a matter of reprehension,” added the Coroner. “ However, in this case Mr Williamson has given an adequate reason for touching the rifle." Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson said he received a telephone message to go to the farm at 12.45 p.m. on Monday. He left with Constables McKenzie and Carseldine. Witness observed the bodies in the places described by the previous witness. Mrs Rogers had been shot at close range in the' head while washing in the washhouse, and had been dead about two hours. Outside the washhouse door he found a. .22 calibre shell, with the appearance Of having recently been fired; He also found a used bullet in the living room with indications that it had penetrated the baby’s head. The child had been shot at very close range. The child Barbara had been shot in her cot in the same way as her sister and mother. A discharged .22 shell was subsequently found in the cot. On the bedroom floor, lying flat on the chest, was the dead body of Rogers. Not Financially Embarrassed. Examination showed that Rogers had also been shot in the forehead In the same place as the others. Witness recovered a spent shell near the deceased. Assuming that Rogers had shot himself it was obvious that the rifle nearby had been moved. Williamson gave his reasons for moving the rifle and. witness had no reason to doubt his word. Witness searched Rogers’ papers and found no evidence that he was financially embarrassed. Inquiries from neighbours showed that deceased was very depressed and worried that he would be unable to make the farm pay. Dr. A. G. Waddell deposed to arriving at the farm about 1.30 p.m. He testified that the four deceased had died from bullet-wounds caused by a pea-riile. Death had occurred about one-and a-half hours before. The Coroner said the evidence showed that the four deceased had died from gun-shot wounds inflicted by Henry Tudor Rogers. Since Hie disposal of the estate might turn on the order of death lie found that Mrs Rogers died first, the baby Nola second, the child Barbara third, and Rogers himself lastly. To be insane in law a man must be incapable of understanding the nature and quality of his act. There was no evidence that Rogers was insane when he committed the acts. . There was evidence that lie was very depressed which was not an uncommon state at present. The Coroner’s Verdict. The Coroner found that Marion Isabella Goulden Rogers, Nola Rogers and Barbara Rogers were killed by gun-shot wounds feloniously inflicted by Henry Tudor Rogers and that Henry Tudor Rogers feloniously killed himself. ______________