Grave of family murdered with a fire poker 114 years ago in Southland commemorated with a plaque – Stuff

The grave of a family who was murdered with a fire poker more than a century ago in Invercargill has now been commemorated with a plaque.

British immigrant James Baxter brutally attacked his family while they slept in their Crinan St home on April 8, 1908.

The 43-year-old killed his sons Basil, 9, Roy, 4, and Ronald 2, while wife Elizabeth, 37, daughter Phyllis, 11, and son John, six weeks old, all died in hospital in the following fortnight.

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The attack ended with Baxter committing suicide.

Maiden Stone Monumental Masons owner Ian Trainor came across information on the family deaths while doing research a month ago.

It was worldwide news. It was the worst mass murder of the time in 1908.

A Press Association story on the mass attack 114 years ago said: Baxter blew his brains out with a gun.

Trainers research revealed the family was in an unmarked grave at Eastern Cemetery.

I thought that was sad [being in an unmarked grave] ... everybody should have a marker.

Kavinda Herath/Stuff

Maiden Stone Monumental Masons owner Ian Trainor beside the plaque he donated to the Baxter family grave. The grave had been previously unmarked for 114 years.

In this case, Im in a position to do something for them.

He and his staff made a plaque for the Baxter family and attached it to their grave at the eastern cemetery on Friday.

The plaque his company donated was approved by the Invercargill City Council after the necessary paperwork was completed and a check of the wording inscribed.

The Baxters names, ages and dates of death are listed, including those of the husband-father.

I didnt pull any punches when I put down the wording ... murdered by husband and father, because thats the truth, Trainor said.

He thought the reason there had been no headstone or marker on the grave previously was that the Baxters had emigrated from the UK and had no relatives living in Southland.

Trainor was pleased he could provide a marker.

It marks their resting place and thats important.

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Grave of family murdered with a fire poker 114 years ago in Southland commemorated with a plaque - Stuff