TRIPLE DROWNING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 274, 14 July 1932, Page 5

TRIPLE DROWNING

(Press. Assn.-

charge of murder bigamous "husband denies causing death of i family WANTED TWO WIVES AT HOME

— By Telegrapli — Copyright).

Rec. July 13, midnigbt. MELBOURNE, Wednesday. A triple drowning tragedy, the victims of which were Mrs Ivy Russell, aged 27 years and her two children at Sunshine, on June 11, was investigated by the City. coroner, who committed James Russell, aged 27 years, for trial on a charge of murder. Police evidence was that Russell was arrested after the tragedy on a charge; of bigamy. He made a statement saying that he had wanted his second wife, unaware that he was already married, to come to his home and live with a married sister, meaning his | real wife. He also said, "I suppose I will get my neck stretched for this." A constahle said, "Well you really did push your wife and children into the swimming pool?" Russell replied, "No, but I suppose I will get the blame as my wife's father has no time for me." He m?de another statement that his wife who had threatened suicide previously, allowed the perambulator to run down the hill into the pool with the two children, and that she jumped in afterward. All were drowned, he heing unable to rescue thc-m. Mrs Russell, together with her two inl'ant children, was found drowned in a swimming pool on July 11. It was at first considered a case of suicide but further investigations led to the arrest of the husband.