TRAGEDY AT KAIAPOI

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2770, 13 May 1916, Page 8

TRAGEDY AT KAIAPOI

. —: -7 ; — . HUSBAND AND WIFE FOUND DEAD. By. TelbEranh—Press Association. Christchurch, May '2. . Jlr. and Mrs. James Holland, of Kaiv l»i, wers found ucad iii tiieu- nouse uuo afternoon. The wife's body wus found inside the front door, with a Tope round the mouth, dead. The husband's dead body was lound in the wash-house at the buck of the house, with a rope round the neck.. A peculiar . circumstance is that the ropes Were cut, and there is no indication oither that the man hanged himself or the woman. Constable Holmes, in charge at Kaiapoi, immediately communicated with Superintendent jJwyer, who ■ dispatched ChiefDefcectivo Herbert and Sergt.-Detcctive Hunt to Kaiapoi to investigate the affair. Mr., and Jlrs. Holland were well known a.nd respected residents of Kaiapoi. Mrs. Holland was the second wife of Sir. Holland, v:ho has a. grown-up' family. Nono of. the family live in Kaiapoi. The discovery of the bodies followedupon an insurance agent calling at Mr. and Mrs. Holland's house between 2'and 3 o'clock this afternoon. A little child answered the door when tlio insurance agent knocked, and from the child he learned what had'happened to ilr. and Mrs. Holland.' The insurance agent found the dead bodies as described. Mr. Holland was about 74 years of age, and a native of Clare, County Down, Ireland. He came •to the Dominion in the ship Mermaid in. 18GB, and' followed farming pursuits until the disposal of his land to the Freezing Company. The child seen by the insurance;agent is the only child of. llr. Holland's second marriage. It was running in and out of the' house when the agent saw it, and went to hud out what : was the matter.