TRAGEDY AT SYDENHAM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1152, 15 March 1884, Page 3

TRAGEDY AT SYDENHAM.

On Thursday afternoon (says the Press) Mrs Royl, wife of a carpenter living in Third or Sandyford street, Sydenham, drowned two of her children and attempted her own life. A man named Haggiston going home from work about 6 pan. heard screams from a point on the Hcatbcote river, near Mr Parker’s house, about a quarter of a mile up from Colombo bridge. He ran towards the spot and saw the bodies of two children floating down the stream and the woman standing on the bank. She tried to avoid him, but he caught her and found her all wet. To Ids question how came the children in the river she returned no answer. With the assistance of a man who had followed him he got the two bodies out, and going a little down the stream found a boy clinging to some willow branches. This boy was got out nearly exhausted, and was taken with his mother to Captain Fisher’s house, where Mrs Fisher undoubtedly saved his life by the restorative treatment which she promptly applied. She also despatched a messenger to the police depot, and Inspector Pender at once drove down with Sergeant Wilson. He found the woman obvionsly deranged. In answer to his questions she first said the children fell into the river ; but afterwards said she did not know how they got in. No connected story could be obtained from her, and by Dr Thomas’ advice she was removed to the hospital, a constable being left in charge of her. The boy remained at Mrs Fisher’s, and the bodies of the two drowned children were removed to Lawrence’s hotel.

Mrs Royl’s insanity seems to have been gathering head seme time- About eight months ago she was confined, and since then she has complained of pain in her head. She was, however, able to attend to her work with the assistance of a little girl, but this was withdrawn two or three days ago. On Wednesday night she complained of pain in the head, but was well in the morning when her husband went to work. At half past three yesterday her brother called on her and found her preparing to go out, hut she would net say where. She sent her eldest boy to a relative living in the neighbourhood and then borrowing a perambulator took the three younger children away. The boy saved is three and a half years old and the boy and girl two and a half years and eight months respectively. The woman is said to belong to the Salvation Army. It is worthy of note that the part of the river where the bodies were found is at once the deepest and most sequestered in all Sydenham. At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, Mrs Royl was formally charged with the murder of her two children by drowning in the River Heatheote, At the request of Inspector Pender the case was adjourned. The accused is under medical supervision at the Hospital. She passed a quiet night and appeared quite calm, but lias made no reference to the death of her children. The inquest will be held to-day. The eldest boy, who was rescued in an exhausted state, is now out of all danger. I