KARAKA TRAGEDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 144, 8 September 1927, Page 11

KARAKA TRAGEDY

WIFE'S THREAT TO “DO AWAY WITH FAMILY” INQUEST OPENED TO-DAY THE inquest opened this morning at the Magistrate’s Court on the victims of the Karaka poisoning tragedy before Mr. F„ K. Hunt, S.M. After taking evidence of identification the inquest was adjourned. The tragedy resulted in the' deaths of Mary, Minnie Blackwell, aged about 40, and her two daughters, Marjorie Doreen Blackwell, 14, and Muriel Mercia Blackwell, aged 11. It is learned from the husband, Herbert John Blackwell, that his wife had suffered from acute pains in her back for the past three weeks, and had threatened to “do away with the family.” Although in ill-health Mrs. Blackwell attended to her household duties with scrupulous care, and their home was a model of cleanliness. Mrs. Blackwell came infrequently in contact with her neighbours, and her life was more or less secluded, her husband said. She came to Auckland last Thursday. Sometimes she walked to Papakura, but for months on end she saw little of people outside her home. The family had been in the district for about three years, and the children attended the Te Hihi School. Marjorie was in Standard VI., Muriel in Standard IV. Gordon had only recently started to go to school.