SOUTH ISLAND TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 13 May 1916, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND TRAGEDY.

KAIAPOI RESIDENTS FOUND DEAD. MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF MAN S AND WIFE. Per Press Association. Christchurch, May 12. Mr and Mrs James Holland, of Kaiapoi, wore found dead in their house this afternoon. The wife’s body was found inside the front door, a rope being round her mouth. The husband’s body was found in a wash-house at the ibac-k of the house, with a rope round his neck. A peculiar circumstance is that the ropes were cut, and there is no indication either that the man hanged himself or the woman. Constable Holmes who is in charge at Kaiapoi, immediately communicated with Superintendent Dwyer, who despatched Chief Detective Herbert and Sei’gt.-Detective Hunt to Kaiapoi to investigate the affair. Mr and Airs Holland were wellknown and respected residents of Kaiapoi. Mrs Holland was - L he second wife of Holland, who lifts a grown-up family, none of whom live in Kaiapoi’. The discovery of the bodies followed upon the visit of an insurance agent to Mr and Mrs Holland’s house, between 2 and 3 o’clock this afternoon. A little child answered the door when the insurance agent knocked. From the child he learned what had happened I to Mr 'and Mrs Holland, and the insurance agent found-the dead bodies as described. Mr Holland was about 74 years of age. He was a native of Clare, County Down, Ireland. He came to the Dominion in the ship Mermaid in 1863, and followed farming pursuits until the disposal of his land to a freezing company. The child seen by tfie. insurance agent was the only, child of Holland’s second marriage. It was running in and out of the house when the agent saw It ’and went in''to find'out what was the ; matter; ■ ! ‘ ( ’