MOTHERS CRIME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 388, 24 November 1932, Page 3

MOTHERS CRIME

TWO CHILDREN'S THROATS SLASHED WITH RAZOR. Melbourne, Saturday. Entering a house afc West Geelong this afternoon, police found two children with their throats cut — one dead and the other in a critical condition. Later, the mother, Elizabeth Douglas Pedder, who also had a gash' in h'er throat, was dragged from the sea. She is now in hospital under arrest. The child victims were William Edward Pedder, aged two months (dead) ,and Harry Douglas Pedder, 18 months, who is in hospital with his mother. In the bedroom where the children lay was a bloodstained razor. The husband was working away from home at the time of the tragedy. The first intimation of a tragedy was given when neighbours heard the children crying. When they knocked at the door without receiving any answer, the house was entered and the children were fourid in a bedroom. A few minutes later, when Constable Cooper was riding his motor . cycle near the beach, he saw a woman throw herself into the sea. He rode down to the water's edge and waded out to the woman, whose head was just above water. He pulled her to the beach, wh'ere, it is stated, she told him of the happenings at the house. A year ago Mrs. Pedder, who is only 23, .spent some time in a mental hospitak