Arthur Herman William Herbert Rottman

1914 Ruahine axe murders. On 28 December a young German man, Arthur Rottman, brutally murdered his former employer Joseph McCann, his wife Lucy and their infant son John with an axe. No clear motive emerged before he was hanged on 8 March 1915 at the Terrace Gaol, Wellington.

CORONER'S VERDICT THAT ROTT MANN IS GUILTY. PRISONER'S ADMISSION TO DETECTIVE. IJPer p ress Association.) MANGAWEKA. this day. Evidence at the inquest on the McCain tragedy wn 3 re-opehed by Detective Sergeant Rawle.. of Wellington, who deposed to arresting Rottmann m the bush adjacent to Te Kamarama station, Caps terawlhit;. Witness covered Rottman with a revolver, and then handcuffed him. Rottman said, m I'eply to the charge of murder of McUann, liis Avii'c, and child : "1 am guilty. 1 know I'm done. God punish the man who brought me into this country." Mr Haselden, S.M., as coroner, gave a verdict that Joseph MeCann. Lucy JNIcCann, and the child died at Ruahine on December 28, from wounds wilfully inflicted by Arthur Rottman with an axe on the head and. neck of the three victims, and that the said Arthur Rottman did. wilfully murder the said three McCanns. THE MURDER CHARGE. Arthur Rottman was then charged that at Ruahine on December 28 he did wilfully murder Joseph MeCann, Lucy MeCann, and the child John MeCann" Accused was not represented by counsel. . Mr C. C. Hutton, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the prosecution. Walter Kelly, employed at the lighthouse, Terawhiti, stated that Rottman arrived, there on December 28 on horseback. He asked for work, and was directed to the manager of a sheep station. Rottmann returned two days later on foot. He said he had sold the horse. Next day the papers arrived, and he handed. Rottmann one. The accused asked, "Have you read the account of the murder at Ruahine?" Witness replied m the negative.^' Rottman then read the paper account aloud. He asked witness the prospects of getting a boat to go to Pftlorus Sounds. Witness said he thought it best for Rottman to get a Nelson boat at the wharf. Accused said he could not go to the wharf, which was lined with detectives, arresting all Germans. Witness left. He stated that it was his intention to got the mail. Rottman asked him not to tell the police he was there. Witness went aw«y, and informed the police. Evidence on the same lines as 'given at the inquest yesterday was given, by Herbert Sweet, Constable Esson, Gustave Kreger, and Albert Patchett. Source: Poverty Bay Herald (7 January 1915, p. 5) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19150107.2.49

"The Ruahine Axe Murders"
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Argument - Alcohol
Number of victims: 3
Date of murders: December 28, 1914
Date of birth: 1893
Victims profile: Joseph and Mary McCann and their baby son
Method of murder: Beating with an axe
Location: Ruahine, New Zealand
Status: Executed by hanging in Wellington at the old Terrace Gaol on March 8, 1915