AN OTAGO HORROR

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1927, Page 3

AN OTAGO HORROR

MOTHER SHOOTS FOUR INFANTS

[m TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.J

GORE, April 11

Mr George Cockburn Rae, wbo is engaged as a farmer at Kniwern, a somewhat lonely settlement, about six miles from Puekrau. left hi.s home in the usual manner to plough a paddock this morning, his wife and four young children being then apparently on good terms.

At 12.Jf) i).in. Mr Ran returned to the farmhouse for lunch. On nearing the house lie heard a shot ring out. He then rushed inside and saw a inte on the table. Jle next dashed for tile bedroom, where he was collimated by his wife with a pca-iifio in her hands, and blood streaming from under her left breast. In a room off the kitchen. Mr Rae discovered the four children, three lieing shot dead, and the fourth expiring as the father entered the room. The children were dressed in their night attire at the time, and it is presumed that they were shot by the mother, after putting on their nightdresses. The police were roiiiminnVatcd with, and the demented mother, still alive, was Brought to Ihe Gore Hospital, where she lies in a very critical stale. The husband is suffering from shock, and so far is unable to give a very coherent account, of the gruesome tragedy. Neighbours stated that the husband wife and children were on the best of terms, and they were never known to have had any friction. Mi's Rae is said to lie the daughter of a Tautapere mini. The children’s ages ranged from one year to live years, and the couple had been employed on the farm at Kaiwera for some two or three years. FURTHER DETAILS. GORE. April 12. The condition of Typhoon Carroll Rae. one of the victims (mother) of yesterday's Kaiwern tragedy, is still very grave, hut she has a lighting chance ot recovery. Few further details of the gruesome affair are available. The mother is 21 years of age. All four children were sl«it in the abdomen with a pearille, one having two bullets in the body. The tlier left a note intimating her inlent inn to commit suicide and was rational enough lust night, to make a statement to the Coroner. I lie inquest. was opened at the scene ot the tragedy this morning, evidence of identification being taken and adjourned.