KIDDELL TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1927, Page 3

KIDDELL TRAGEDY

1 FURTHER PARTICULARS. (By Telegraph Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, duly 0. din- laidic.- were removed from the hoii'-e tills morning to a private mortuary and in the evening they were identified by the Rev. K. Ilnrty. Vicar of Kranktou .Junction, who had been a fellow passenger from K.ngbind on the Renniera with the parent- and the daughter in May and dune. The Inquest will be opened at Hie Magistrate's Court ln-niorru\\ morning. before Mr K. K. Hun. S.M.. Coroner for the evidence of identification. It will then probably be adjourned lor The funeral of the lour victims will he held probably on Thursday. Crowds of morbid sightseers, including many children, were attracted L i the locality to-day. The house is owned by Mrs T. Clarke, of 271 Knrnngaliapc Knud, who lived there until recently. The house was then let to a tenant: for three months, after which it was vacated, and the Kiddciis too!: the tenancy as from dune 15th. At first no definite tenure was fixed. and before moving in. Air Kiddell had a further interview with Airs Clark, in which lie expressed his regret t lint lie would he unable to undertake the tenancy as lie had to go to ALingaweka the next day. However. Kiddell culled to say that he would he in Auckland longer than he expected, owing to the fact that his son. acting on medical advice, would not go back to his farm at ALingaweka for at least a month. Air Kiddell then decided to take a three months' tenamv of the house and lie paid the rent lor the whole period in advance. Throughout the negotiations Airs Clark" gathering the impression that Kiddell was a man of comparative affluence. He mentioned casually that there was a mortage of L-fOOtl on bis son’s farm at ATatigaweka. hut this did not appear to cause him anxiety. The'hurtling of the electric light day anil night in l<hc room in which the body of Miss Kiddell was found, worried Mrs K. P. All.Mahon, of 2. \V.-t Street, who lives almost oppn-iie. Having heard that the Riddells had referred to an impending visit t-> Alaiigaweka. Airs AlcALihon concluded that the light had inadvertently been left on. She formed no suspicion of I lie pitiable tragedy later discovered, although, having observed the souieu r:a t peculiar demeanour of the son. the thought passed through her mind that the latter may have "done something” to the mother. On Friday last Airs .McMahon decided to sec Airs Clarke, whom she knew as a former neighbour, acquainting her with the fact that, a light had been burning in one of the rooms for over a week. Airs Clarke was loathe to interfere, as the Kiddells had paid in advance for the tenancy, hut on Saturday she telegraphed to .Mr Kiddell, dun., tit ALingaweka. Advice came hack that the son was not there. Mrs AlcAWhon's daughter while on her way to the Girls’ Grammar School in llovve Street, Newton, yesterday morning, saw Airs Clark and told her the light was still burning. Alt's Clarke then communicated w.Ttih the police and the tragedy was discovered.

•‘Tho Kiddells impressed me as a family of a very refined type.” said Airs AfcAlahnn, “although I had never met Lliem ; for we only saw them oil tho three days after they moved in. 'Hie father and son appeared to he on exceptionally affectionate terms, and ! have seen them walking along the street with the father's arm around tho son. Aliss Kiddell always seemed bright and pleasant.” A similar impression was funned by others who had seen the family. A tradesman at .Mount Albert Torniinns said: “Kiddell senior seemed to he of an excitable disposition. He had placed an order for a supply o! coal and was annoyed when the order was no fulfilled as speedily a., he desired.”

The family had been in the lo.aiify such a. short time, however, that they came in contact with a very lew people and made no definite impression, apart, from the fact Unit they were obviously cultured and well-bred.

The date of the tragedy is believed to have been Wednesday. June 22nd. four days after the family had gone into occupation of the bouse. which they bad rented and furnished. It is inferred that it occurred at night, and that the girl was shot first. The laOt that the bullet entered the hack ol her head and that, when found, she was lying partly out of bed with her head near the floor, may perhaps he taken to mean that she did not know her death was planned, whereas the mother anti son were found lying in bed ; her arm being around his neck. 'I here were no signs of a struggle, and it is thought likely the two had deliberate, lv composed themselves in readiness for death by the father’s hand. Kidded senior died from a bullet fired through the mouth hut how such an appalling tragedy could have come to pass in a family of well-educated and general superior people had until tnduv been very inadequately explained. LETTER TO POLICE. Til his letter to the police, Kidded, senior, stated that domestic troubles was leading him to take the lives of :his wile and children and then his

Superintendent Wohlman said he could not disclose the exact nature ol the domestic unhappiness revealed in the letter.

To the question as to whether or not Kidded senior, had purchased a rifle in Auckland, he said he was not. in a position to make a reply. KidJell brought a gun with him front England, hut that was not the weapon will which ho slew his lamily. Apparently the death-dealing A\ inchestei was purchased in Auckland tor the purpose fulfilled on June 22nd. Ernest Whitby Kidded was horn at Harwich on June 21th. 1861). and was a retired. Customs Officer. However, it is not known inhere he was stationed. or where he worked in England.

His passport shows it was issued at the Foreign Office. London. <>n h‘"G----r u ary 15th, 1927. The wife, Louisa Kidded, was horn at Southampton on January 2nd, 18.-. while the daughter was horn on May XBt.li, 19C-9 at Wan.Hoad. In her passport. she is described as a student. Superintendent Wohlinanu stated that according to t orrespondence found in the house, the daughter was known hv another name. However, her correct name is given in the passport. It is evident from the passports that the mother, father and daughter had been separated on previous occasions. Iho daughter's passport shows she visited Switzerland and Italy in February of 1925. while her mother's show she intended going to Frame. Belgium and Holland. However, she did not visit these countries. Both their passports were issued from the Foreign Office on April 23rd. 1923. while that of her husband was issued on February 15th. 1927.

PARTICULARS OF KIDDEU.S. BLENHEIM. July 6. Members of the crew of the Roninera, now at Ricton, were horrified at the news of the Kiddeli tragedy at Auckland, the family being well remembered by many on hoard. It is ascertained that Mr and Airs Kidded and daughter were very popular during the voyage. It is understood that they were comfortably off and travelled second class. Ividdell was believ-

ed to he a retired official of the Ilri- • tisli Customs Dopnrment and was stationed at various times in London, Folkestone. Cardiff and Southampton. He is understood to he enjoying a pension of about £f!9o a year, lie brought with him a sporting ritle and possibly a revolver or automatic pistol. On the ship leaving Southampton on .May 0. Kiddell was accorded a great semi off and made tile recipient of a present,at ion by the Customs oflicia Is.

THE INQUEST OR EX ED. AUCKLAND, duly G

s-ui and (laughter, opened for idenii lieatioii of the hollies, ollercd by Rev II art v a lid adjourned -i lie die.

Tile following i- the letter signed by Kiddell senior and udilres-ed to liepel ice : “I ain not i n-a lie. but ibis il lie only w ay mil of flic trouble. There is money in my breeches hip pocket sufficient To defray funeral expenses. I have made al rnngcnicnts with the Rank of New Zealand at Napier for the (lispo-al of my (ash here. Please post all letters, giving Airs Clark the unstamped one. Aly soil bought a farm at ALingaweka a month ago. and through ;l nervous breakdown has not been licitr the place for three weeks. All the slock are .suffering and lie can never work it. he says. Aly daughter has also had a had breakdown. My own health is failing. I vas operated on recently for removal of a kidney. Aly wife is -broken-hcarte 1 at these troubles.”