MANSLAUGHTER

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1932, Page 2

MANSLAUGHTER

, HI'SBAND FOUND GUILTY: SWIMMING POOL TRAGEDY. , Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, October 1. A Criminal Court, jury found Harold Russell guilty of the manslaughter of his wife and two; sons, who were drowned in a swimming pool at Sunsome. Accused was remanded for sentence. The jury at the first trial disagreed.

A triple drowning ‘tragedy, the victims being Mrs Jvy Russell, aged twenty seven, and her two children, at Sunshine, on June 11, was investigated by the City Coroner at. Melbourne on July 13. He committed the husband, Harold Russell, aged tweii'c-y-seven,. a mechanic, for trial on a charge of murder. The police gave evidence that Russell was arrested after the tragedy on a charge of bigamy. He made a statement saying that he wanted Ins second wife, who was not aware he was already married,' to come homeland live with his married sister, meaning his real wife. He also said: “1 suppose I will get my neck stretched for this.” Constable Bolton said: “Well, you really did push your wife and child reu into the swimming pool.” Russell replied: “No. But I suppose I will get the blame, fis ljj.v wife’s father has got no 'time for, me.” He made another statement that liift wife, who had threatened to commit suicide previously, had allowed the perambulator to run down the: hill with the children to the pool and had jumped in after them, all being drowned. Ho .was unable to rescue them.