DROMORE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1925, Page 4

DROMORE TRAGEDY

CHRISTCHURCH, January 3. Further particulars of the tragedy at Droinore state that with his throat cut from ear to ear as the result of a razor slash, Freddie Hodgson, aged nine, was found dead in lied at Dromore 011 Thursday -night, the crime being alleged to he the insane act of his lather, Frederick Tyson Hodgson, accountant, of Ashburton. The hoy’s body was lying in a bloodcovered bed, the head being nearly severed. Death must have been

practically iiislanlaneoiis. The lad occupied the same lied as his father, Robert Tyson Hodgson, aged foiirLy-four. accountant. for the New Zealand Fanners’ Co-operative Association, at Ashburton, v.fm admitted to his wile and to the police that lie had killed the boy. Hodgson also had several gashes in his own throal which seemed to indicate that he had intended to take his own life lint had abandoned the attempt. The tragedy oecurred at about ten minutes to eleven o’clock and at 11.20 o’clock a constable front Ashburton arrived on the scene. “ !‘V E KIBBFD FREDDIE.” When I"- -.aw H staid". Ilgd-t son said [ kiimv, unit vn|i are and what you have come for. I’ve killed Freddie! I cut bis throat with a razor! You can lake me! Hodgson who was then in his nyinmns, was allowed to diess. He did not give any trouble until lie was fully dressed and the eoiislahle produced handcuffs. He then put up a light and after a fierce struggle was safely handcuffed. On the wav in to Ashburton lie did not give any trouble. He slept timing a good part of the journey. NO APPARENT MOTIVE.

There is no apparent motive for Iho crime. Hodgson lived happily with his wife and llnee sens, the murdered hoy being the eldest, at 07. Havelock Street Ashburton, lie was particularly fond of his children and was happy with his wife. The family had been spending the holidays as the guests of Air Robert J. Johnston, farmer, of Dromore. Mrs Hodgson and Airs Jolmsiun being sisters. Frederick, the murdered ho.v, shared the same hod as his father, they being the only occupants of the room. Airs Hodgson was sleeping in another room. The two younger hoys, aged six and two years and a half respectively, are suffering from measles.

ARRESTED AIAX HIGHLY RESPECTED. ILigdsoii is very well-known through out the Ashburton district and was highly rospecLed. He was horn in Ashburton and has been for twentyfive years in the employ of the New Zealand Fanners’ Co-operative Association. Ho was married ten or eleven years ago. Airs Hodgson having been schoolmistress at Dromore. On Thursday Hodgson worked in the paddocks at the farm during the day, and after tea Mr and Airs Johnston and Airs Hodgson went out for a while to gather mushrooms, leaving him in charge of the house. There was nothing strange about his manner at that time or at any other time during the evening.