MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3729, 13 December 1927, Page 3

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

HUSBAND AND WIFE FOUND DEAD. Christchurch, December 10. Mrs. Olive Foster was murdered by her husband, William Alexander Foster, at the Northcote settlement Papanui, early this morning. Foster then committed suicide by drowning.

The tragedy of Mr. and Mrs. Foster’s deaths occurred between midnight and 6.15 a.m. At 6.15 a.m. a milkman who called at the Foster’s home at 31 Godley Avenue, found this note on the milk billy:— “For God’s sake send for the police immediately.”

The doors of the house were open ■land the milkman went inside. There a gruesome sight met his eyes. On a bed lay Mrs. 1 Foster, her head injured to a terrible extent, while the bedding was soaked in blood. In the bath was her husband, in a crouching position, with a bootlast on his head, dro'wned. Outside on the small grass patch in front of the house were the five children, who are aged from just under two to eight, dressed in their night clothes, quite oblivious to the fearful tragedy which had robbed them of nmther and father. The milkman summoned the next door neighbours and informed the police.

Wshen Foster’s body was discovered in the bath he was dressed in his trousers and shirt, with a threelegged boot last on his head, which was under the water. Propped against the wall of the bathroom was a three-quarter-size axe, its blade coverred with bloocl. It was with this that Foster had apparently brutally attacked Mrs. Foster, who was lying face downwards •on the bed, her arms 'outstretched." Her skull was battered by the many blows which she had received.

In the dining-room of the house, a five-roomed one, were the remains of a supper, while on the kitchen table there were signs that a meal had been consumed there recently. The five children, Hazel (aged eight years), Cyril (aged seven), Jackie (aged five), Joyce (aged three), and Bobbie (not quite two), were taken and cared for by a neighbour. /They did not realise the tragedy that had occurred. APPARENTLY PREMEDITATED. It would appear that the murder was premeditated.? Foster, who was first assistant master at the Papanui Public 'School, had not enjoyed good health for some time past, and was understood to be suffering from the effects of being gassed at the war. Not long ago he was involved in a motor collision which resulted in considerable expense to him. One of his children was severely burned from the Avaist down when its clothes caught fire at his home. Foster supplemented his earnings as a school teacher by teaching the pianoforte. He was a very popular master at the school, both amongst the staff and pupils. He was in charge of the boys’ sports asd was a keen enthusiast He was also choirmaster at St. Paul’s Church, Papanui. Foster, who was 37 years of age, served during the war at Samoa and also in France, leaving New Zealand with the first contingent . , . , •Mrs. Foster was a war bride, the marriage having taken place in England about 1918. She was 31 years of age. Foster took a very active part in the Boy Scout movement shortly after it was inaugurated in Christchurch. It is stated that Foster vyas rntervifewed by the police yesterday. INQUEST OPENED. The inquest on Mr. and Mrs. Foster, the farmer of whom was aged 36 years, was opened and adjourned'until Tuesday. > ./