TRIPLE TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1927, Page 3

TRIPLE TRAGEDY.

MOTHER. AND TWO DAUGHTERS. PUKEKOHE, Sept. 7. \ terrible tragedy occurred yesterday afternoon at Yates farm, aiau, Karaka, fourteen miles from Pukekolie. The victims were Mrs Elackwell, ami two daughters, Marjor.e aged Id iand Muriel, 12 years. It is alleged their death was due to strychnine poisoning. The husband and father, H. Blackwell, employed on the farm as a ploughman was at Pa.pakura with a mob of sheep. The victims and a six year-old hoy, Gordon Blackwell, had in ill'll, the latter eating hlanc-mange while the victims partook of apricots and later became violently ill. The hoy clearing his stomach pf food and becoming alarmed at the condition of his mother and sisters, went to the nearest telephone and summoned Doctor Page from Papakura, who upon arrival found the mother and one daughter dead and the other in convulsions and she subsequently succumbed. The police hurried to the scene and found the house spick and span, with no dirty dishes about. The mother wa s on a couch and the two girls side by side, beside the bed fully clothed. There was no evidence of a struggle. Detectives took charge to-day and conveyed the bodies to Auckland.