A Bush Tragedy.

Manawatu Herald, 1 August 1903, Page 2

A Bush Tragedy.

MOTHER AND CHILDREN PERISH. The dead bodies of a woman named Mrs Smith and her two children—a girl about 12 and a boy nine years of age—have been found near Windeyer, ‘N.S W., close to the roadside at what ia known ft* the Round Mountain. Mrs Smith and her two children left. their home near Windeyer about four weeks ago to visit Mr* Smith’s mother living at the Crudine, 15 miles away, with the expressed intention of staying there for two or three days. They stayed away and did not return home for two Weeks, when Smith, the husband, a halfcaste, becoming anxious at their absence himself visited Mrs Smith’* mother’s house, when he learned that they had left for home about 10 days before. He then searched on each side of the road, when he ~" found the body of hi* wife about 30 yards off the road in the huh. Continuing his search he found the bodies of the children abous 30 yard* distant from their mother. The bodies were removed to Windeyer, where an inquest was held. One peculiar circumstance lies Jn the fact that Mrs Smith had , issued a summons for maintenance against her husband and the case was set down for hearing on the day the bodies .were found. It is stated that Smith is a half-witted man, and that his wife was also a hklf-oafite. Although the woman and children were missed fer over two weeks the medical opinion is that the death of the woman occurred not more than eight days ago at the outside, and that of the children even more recently. With reference to a rumour that they were poisoned, no trace of poisoning could be found, but their stomachs were empty* The doctor thinks that the woman probably died in a fit. The children were both'in a most emaciated condition, and were scantily clad, the girl having on nothing but a cotton frock. About the time of their death the weather was exceedingly severe, the thermometer registering 12 degrees below freezing point. It is su#r posed that they were frozen to death.^