GHASTLY TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1922, Page 4

GHASTLY TRAGEDY.

A FAMILY DROWNED. MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN. ? HUSBAND’S TRAGIC DISCOVERY. NO REASON FOR CRIME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland. Last Night. A terrible tragedy, involving the death of a mother and Her four children by drowning, occurred at a home in a suburb here last night. James Arthur Thornton, residing in Garden Road, Epsom, on returning from work in the city about ten o’clock last night, found his wife and four children, a boy of seven years, a girl of four years, a boy of two years, and an infant of six months, drowned in the bath. When Thornton returned from the city last evening, at about ten o’clock, he found the doors of nis pretty little suburban home at 11 Garden Road, Epsom, barred, and he was unable to effect an entrance. When he left his wife earlier in the day, she appeared in her usual good spirits and expressed no intention of going out. WHAT THE HUSBAND FOUND. Becoming alarmed, he forced the front door open, and on searching the house he found his wife, Beatrice, dead in the bath, with her youngest child (Eileen Frances, aged six months) clasped in her arms. No sign could be found of the other children, and after making another hurried search of his house, he comihunicated with the Epsom police station, and Constable Wales assisted in another search of the premises. In a bedroom the children were each wrapped naked in a sheet and on a double bed, with the bed-clothes carefully arranged over them. Nearest to the wall lay James, and beside him was Mary, while on the outside lay the youngest siater, Evelyne. The unfortunate mother had apparently carried the children and placed them on the bed, after drowning them in a small bath in the room. Dr. Reid, who had also been summoned, pronounced life extinct. WOMAN APPEARED NORMAL. The bath was a small tin one, and could not nave contained more than two feet of water. A few bloodstains on the floor at the head of the bath is the only indication of the struggle that must have taken place when the mother placed the children in the bath. There is no evidence that Mrs. Thornton had intended bathing the children, as soap iiad not been used. The .bath was devoid of water, which is accounted for by one of the final convulsive movements of the woman’s foot striking the chain and pulling out the plug. The bodies, which were all found without clothing of any description, bore no marks whatsoever. A search by the police failed to disclose the presence of any poison in the house. Everything was in order, and there was nothing to indicate there had been a struggle or a disturbance of any kind. When the husband left home his wife gave no indication of a suicidal intention, and appeared quite normal. It is understood she apparently has been in satisfactory health, although it is believed she suffered severely times. Neighbours regarded her as a quiet and industrious housewife, whose conduct gave no indication that she was ot<rerwise than perfectly normal in her actions. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are believed to have formerly resided in Wellington, but had been living in Epsom for the past three and a-half years. There is no evidence of the reason fol tbo tragedy. PECULIAR QUESTIONS.

The tragedy inquest was opened before Mr. Poynton, S.M., this afternoon. James Thornton, the husband of the deceased woman, said he was married nine years ago. His wife was born in Donegal. Ireland, and had been in New Zealand 16 years. She usually had good health. Witness last saw his wife at .12.30 p.m. yesterday, and all the children were there. Then she appeared in her usual health. There was no difference at all. One think which struck him as unsual was that she said; “Do you love me, dad?”. He said: “\es, what makes you say that?” She then said: “You love the children, too?” Witness said: “Why do you say that?” Deceased said: “Oh, I just want to know.” He said: “Are you in good health, mother?” and’ she replied: f*Yes, I’ve never felt better.” Witness returned home at 0.45 * > p.m. . “ The inquest was adjourned.