MOTHER AND CHILD BLOWN TO PIECES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 242, 2 June 1932, Page 5

MOTHER AND CHILD BLOWN TO PIECES

(Press. Assn.

explosion in home HUSBAND PREPARING CHARGE "OF GELIGNITE FOR CLEAR1NG* STUMPS" TRAGEDY NEAR MORRINSViLLE

— By Telegriph — Copyright).

MORRINSVILLE, Wednesday. A shbcking tragedy occurred on the Hangawera Road, about three miles from Morrinsville, at 9 o'clock this morning, -when Mrs; J. -R. Kelly, aged 24 years, j knd her youngest daughter, aged onei year, were blown * to pieces by an explosion of gelignite. Mr. Kelly and -another child were also Ih jured. • . C " : • . Mr. Kelly, who is a farmer, was clearing some stumps from near the house and was preparing a charge of gelignite in the kitchem Mrs. Kelly and her two youngest daughters were also in. the house at the time. , The other daughter was visiting her grandparents.across the road. It is surmised that when Mr. Kelly left the kitchen for a minute or two one of the children pick'ed up the gelignite and threw it on to the stove. Mrs. Kelly and the youngest child were. standing directly in front of the range and received the full force of the • explosion. Blown to Atoms The range was blown to atoms and the baclc portion of the house, which has not been long completed, was shattered. ' ' The victims' bodies were recovered from piles of debris dreadfully mutilated. Mr. Kelly and the eldest daughter were standing at the side of the range and escaped the full force of the explosion. They received many minor injuries and are suffering from severe shock. Heard for Miles The explosion was heard for miles. All the windows of ■ the house were blown out. Mrs. Kelly was a daughter of Mr. J. E. Leeson, and was very wellknown throughout the district. Her father has resided in the Morrinsville district -for 28 years and has taken a prominent and active part in the area's progress. Mrs. Kelly has resided * in Morrinsville all her life, and leaves a 'wide circle of friends.