THE KAIAPOI TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 35, 16 May 1916, Page 7

THE KAIAPOI TRAGEDY.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CRIME. The detectives and the medical men engaged in the case were interviewed on Friday night, state's the "Star," at the scene of the tragetiy, but beyond confirming some 1 .of the facts already outlined, and ,stating that in their opinion both deceased met their death by murder, they cast no further light, on the mystery. Questions elicited from the medical men a statement that rigor mortis had set in on both bodies when they made their first examination, which would place the time of death some hours earlier. In regard to the little boy, Cyril Holland, it was stated that very little help could be expected from him in the way of an account of what had taken place., He seemed to have no i(j.(?a i|f w\u$ had occurred, and he was. viv backward, for his age so far as talking was concerned. The boy was ,ravenpus}y. hungry when the . potycs came tq, the Jiouse.., The bed occupied by the Hollands was not made.

A LONELY HOUSE. * The house where the tragedy occurred is a Comfortable six-roomed :t»vostoi'cy: place/lying some distance back from Haven .street, which runs eastward from the Main North road, parallel with and near to the river to the south. Mr Holland's house is the last house in the streef, and' ItSnds on' st corner, another, little-used road, running southward from the end of the street, and connecting up with the new freezing works. Mr Holland's house is a quarter of a mile from the main mad, and there is only -one house near it. the residence of the local schoolmaster, which lias been, temporarily unoccupied for the last few days. The house where thfi'tra-gedy'occurred-.is partly screened from the road by a very high and thick matipo : hedge. .The trapshed. at the roar, where Mr Holland's body w;*s found; is near to the side road, and two gates open.,on to the side road from the backyard, one leading to the door of the trapshed and the other to the stables, still further hack. At the time of the tragedy the place must have been a very lonely one, and cries for help could quite conceivably have been made without avail.