THE KAIAPOI TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1916, Page 8

THE KAIAPOI TRAGEDY.

A POSSIBLE CLUE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, May 13. In connection with the Kaiapoi tragedy the police found a bar of iron near the scene, which they think is the weapon used. On Thursday Holland came to town and cashed a cheque for £IOOO and took the money to Kaiapoi, where the bank was specially opened to enable him to deposit it at once. This may give a clue to the motive of the crime. Later. An examination that was conducted to-day shows that Mrs. Holland was evidently attacked in the yard outside the back door, and Jragged head foremost to the house. Holland, it is presumed, was attacked in the trapshed where his body was found, and fought ilmAl for life. His arm was dislocated in two places. The tragedy probably occurred on the evening of Thursday. There is a considerable amount of circumstantial evidence bearing out the assumption that Holland brought £IOOO from Christchurch on Thursday afternoon in a small brown bag, and it appears likely that he ipade no secret of the fact that he had a large sum of money in his possession. On previous occasions when he had large sums he had shown the money to friends and acquaintances. About £lO in cash was in his pockets when the body was discovered. The little boy, Cyril Holland, has been ibrought te Christchurch, a relative taking care of him. As the result of a post mortem examination it was found that Mrs. Holland suffered a fracture on the skull over the right eye, and that Holland received a fraeturc of the skull on the top of the head and back of the head. The weapon is supposed to have been a short length of piping that was found under the house.

It is suggested that the Kaiapoi district and the Government offer a substantial reward for the apprehension of the murderer. An inquest was formally opened this evening before Mr. f. A. B. Bailey, district coroner. Evidence ..'as given of the identification of the bo-lies, and the inquest was adjourned until Wednesday, May 24.