OTAU TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1926, Page 3

OTAU TRAGEDY.

FURTHER DETAILS. [by telegraph-- per press association AUC KLAND, March 4. A terrible nagedy occurred at Otau Settlement between seven aifd eight this morning. Septimus Page, living with his wife and children in a fourroomed house, killed his two infant children, a buy and a girl (twins) aged three months. The children had been left in charge of Miss Finn, aged about twenty, who has been helping Mrs Page in her household duties. Miss Finn was present when tho father committed the terrible act. She rushed across a paddock to the house of Air James Calhoun, a returned soldier. living 500 yards away, and told him what had happened. Mr Calhoun immediately informed Mr R. Quinn, another soldier farmer nearby. Constable Holland, of Papakura. was communicated with. Messrs Quinn and Calhoun went to the house, whore they found the two children with their throats cut.

The father, who had slashed his own throat was a razor, was lying oil the floor in a mini of blood.

A doctor was summoned front Pnpnkura and he attended Page. Though weak from loss of blood. Page was able to get up and walk about, and wash himself. Nurse Urodie said to hint: "AATiv did you do this terrible thing?” Page replied : ” I don't know.” He said he had been feeling unwell for a long time. He had pains in his head. It is stated that at one time Page suffered front tits. Lately he complained of feeling queer. Tho constable took Pago to Auckland Hospital in a motor car. He was looking very ill. Pace is well respected in the district. He is said to have been passionately fond of his two children and devoted to his wife, having been an ideal husband and a hard-working man of abstemious habits.

Before being taken to the hospital. Page wrote a confession, which was taken by the constable.