COUPLE FOUND DEAD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 81, 16 January 1928, Page 7

COUPLE FOUND DEAD

DEATH PACT SUSPECTED. GAS POISONING TRAGEDY. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 15. What is bolieved to have been a death pact between two. young-, people who rented a house at Lyall Bay as "Mr and Mrs Rawlins" was brought to light at about 6 o'clock on Saturday evening, when their dead bodies were discovered with the arms of the one clasped around the other, Deatli was caused through gas poisoning.

The names of the dead are Harold ! Wilson, aged l 30, formerly resident of ' Tasnian Street, thought to be a baker by occupation, and Ivy Walton, aged 17, formerly resident of Mirimar, On December 22, the house, which was furnished, was rented for three weeks by the two deceased, who told the owner that they required it for an uncle and aunt from Palmerston North. Wilson paid the rent in advance, paying an additional ten shillings per week on what the owner was, asking. The deceased is stated- to have been a well-spoken young man, smartly attired, and to have appeared to be in good circumstances, not being short of ready money when he paid the three weeks' rent in cash. The couple, however, did not take possession of the house until early in the New Year, and fneir tenancy expired on Thursday last, January 12. On the morning of that day the following note was received by the owner through the post:—"Will call and leave keys an your office on Thursday evening. Sincerely.—Rawlins." No key was left, and wanting to regain possession of his house on Saturday, the owner went around to the post office, where Wilson had previously stated that he worked, having employment on the night staff. Inquiries made of the postal officials, however, elicited the information that no> one by the name of "Rawlins" was employed at the Wellington office. The owner first went out to Lyall Bay at about 2 p.m. on- Saturday, but finding the house locked up. presumed that "Mr and Mrs Rawlins" were out for the afternoon. He returned at 6 p.m. and finding the house still locked, forced thebacE door. The bedroom door was also locked, and forcing this he discovered Wilson and Miss Walton dead. A rubber tubing led from the gas stove in the kitchen to the bedroom, the gaspipe to the stove having been cut through and the tube attached to this. There was tubing in the house but not sufficient to reach to the bedroom, and an extra length had apparently been obtained from some source or other. The gas was still on when the discovery was made.