A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 247, 1 August 1932, Page 5

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

FATHER AND SON DEAD. GAS-HEATER LEFT TURNED ON. fPer Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 31. A double tragedy, involving the death of a child aged five years, and his father, occurred ini a flat in Wyndyard Street on Saturday night, the bodies of the father and son being discovered in bed this morning. The father was William Charles Morrison, aged 50, a married man, living apart from his wife, while the son, John Albert Morrison, was an only child. The boy, who lived with his mother, Mrs Ida Morrison,, a nurse, of Northcote, was visiting his father for the week-end. The child arrived on the visit to his fatlie ion Friday afternoon. On Saturday the pair went to see the League Test match at Carlaw Park, but before the game was finished the father, who had been in ill-health for the past three months, complained of feeling unwell, and they returned to his apartment. After they had taken their evening meal the boy was put to bed about 9 o’clock, the father playing cards with the owner of the house and others until about 10.30, when he retired. He then appeared to be depressed. About 9 o’clock this morning the owner of the house went to the bedroom with the Marrisons’ breakfast, but after knocking received no reply. She then noticed a smell of gas, and notified the other residents of the house, one of whom summoned the police. On arrival they found both the father and son in bed, death having taken place several hours previously. They were both in their night attire. The constables discovered that gas had been allowed to escape from a gas heater, which was turned on, but not lighted, and stood at the foot of the bed. This heater was connected with several feet of flexible tubing to a gas stove, fed through a slot meter. Not art Accident. That the tragedy was not accidental was shown by the fact that the two windows in the room were closely shut. A scarf had been placed over the crack at the top of the door, and an old sheet had been stuffed into the ventilators in the kitchenette and adjoining bedroom. Morrison was formerly in the employ of the Electric Power Board, which he joined in 1909. He saw war service, losing one leg, and on his return he rejoined the board’s staff. About three months ago he retired, giving as his reason ill-health, and stating that after a holiday he intended to join his sister in business in New Zealand. On his retirement, tributes to his work were paid by members of the board. His mother, Mrs IsaaoJMorrison, is a resident of New Plymouth.