THE AVONDALE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 161, 9 July 1910, Page 5

THE AVONDALE TRAGEDY.

DETAILS OF MRS. WEBSTER'S ■•■';:. LIFE. " .... /;.' f CONSENTS TO TAKE POISON. The details surrounding the shocking tragedy - enacted at the, Mental Hospital at Avondale on Thursday afternoon, and the circumstances of the death of the two victims, Ellen Madelene Webster and Captain Herbert Jones, were investigated by , .the City Coroner (Mr. Thos. Gresham) and a jury of cix at the institution today. Sergeant Treanor appeared on behalf of the police. '"■' ' MBS. WEBSTER'S CASE. The death of Mrs. Webster was taken first, and the Coroner read, for the benefit of the jury, the circumstances upon which the deceased was committed to the Mental Hospital. Dr. Girdler'e statement of the case showed that Mrs. Webster declared herself to be a year old, and her youngest child three years of age. She believed someone was always watching her, trying to make her see things wrongly. She said she had 'been in the cab one, two, or three years, and kept repeating her words. Jones told the doctor that Mrs. Webster was always muttering and repeating the same words .over and over again, and seeing things in a room that did not actually exist. For instance, a hat hanging up was described by her as a. bird, and in the noise 1 of tram cars she heard the cries of children. The. nurse (Mrs. Strange) said Mts. Webster was violent, and it took three persons to get 'her out of the cab. She had delusions that someone was after her and always watching her. She jumped out of a window and ran up the street in night attire. Throughout the night she sang and talked. Dr. Wine's statement confirmed that of Dr. Girdler, with the addition that Mrs. Webster said I s'hc was being watched by a Greek resident at Omaha. SISTER OF LIONEL TERRY. Dr. Beattie', medical superintendanfc of the Avondale institution, stated that so far as he knew Mrs Webster was the wife of one George Webster, 'who was supposed to be dead. Witness did not know of his own knowledge if her name was Webster, and did not think her husband was ever in New Zealand. So far as iie could judge all steps were taken, in conversation with Mrs Webster and Jones, to prevent witness from finding out who Webster was or where he lived. The commitment papers etatcd Webster to be residing- at Omaha, but that was apparently wrong. Witness i produced the following letter, undated, written by Jones and left in his bag, addressed to the doctor:— "My dear doctor —On behalf of Mrs Webster, I thank you and all for the consideration and great kindness shown to her, especially by the head matron, Mrs Campbell. I ask you to try and looji over what I have done, and think it was for the best. I alone am responsible. Neither yourself nor assistants are in any way to blame. It is. destiny and had to be done. Treat the twolegged inquisitive insect -with the contempt due to such beings. P.S.—Mra Webster tells mc she has destroyed all letters of her late husband. I know she has not heard from him. for over two years. More.l cannot tell you/* The letter was merely signed "Herbert," but ■ tire witness identified the writing as that of the deceased. He further stated that he had .never had any communication with Mrs Jones. From the reticence shown in regard to the man Geo. Webster, witness assumed he had been a ne'er-do-well, and the intention was to cover up his history. Mrs Webster was a sister of Lionel Ter/y, and daughter of one who toTflt the name of Terry, but whose correct name was De Thierery. She was born in Kent, and if married, the ceremony was performed in South Africa, probably not less than seven years ago. She had been in New Zealand about two .years, and had three children, the eldest six years, and the youngest a little over twelve months' old. JONES CONSIDERED SANE. Continuing, Dr. Beattie stated that Jones, in the course of his various visits, never showed signs of insanity, though he had eccentricities, and on three occasions appeared at the institution very much the worse of liquor. .He was prohibited from seeing Mrs. Webster on those occasions. Though witness had frequently conversed with Jones, he certainly noticed nothing in his conduct or conversation to lead the doctor to believe he was suicidal or homicidal, or in any way mentally affected. Witness considered him sane. After Mrs. Webster had been committed to the hospital, continued Dr. Beattie, Jones told him she had been deserted by her husband, and he (Jones) had taken compassion on her and her children, and had them installed in his own home, growing so fond of them that they would not part. Mrs. Webster was extremely bright and vivacious, and never melancholy. She .was'always willing to do anything she was asked, and was a great favourite with the nurses. When admitted she was suffering from acute mania,'and when this subsided she was left feeble-minded, but bright and loquacious. Replying to Sergeant Treanor, Dr. Beattie stated that the liberties granted patients in seeing visitors depended on their mental condition, but a member of the staff was always handy in case of emergency. FELL WITH A THUD. Violet Campbell, assistant matron, who was in a room off the corridor where the two deceased were talking on Thursday afternoon, said she heard a thud as of someone falling. Witness instantly rushed out, and saw Mrs. Webster lying flat on her back and Jones kneeling at her head, ghe thought Mrs. Webster had taken a fit and loosened her clothing, in the meantime Jones falling across the woman's body. Witness then judged that, both were suffering from poison and summoned Dr. McKelvey. Jones' at no time showed mental derangement. Sophia Campbell, matron, said she had frequently conversed with Jones and found him quite sane. Jones had always shown the greatest fondness for Mrs. Webster, nnd oh one occasion said he would die for her. ' . Dr. McKelvey, assistant-medical superintendent, described finding the two deceased in the corridor lying on their backs on the floor. Both were unconscious and in a dying condition. , Tne pulse in each case was slow and weak, and the . respiration was low, prolonged and sighing. Witness made every effort to.bring the deceased to but they both died about the same time, five, minutes after, he had lecn called. He detected a ktooag Moell of prusalc add from on* oi .-■Vv ......r,v:. V' "Vv^

the; bottlw found in the corridor, and also from a tobacco tin and a glass, whUe- r a : *''Mco^>lM^lelh^^«-vuMU:.'iyf; ! Twine. Jones never at any.tune showed signs of insanity. •• > • ■'■■■-. '■: --. ■ ■ : ; A KAMBMHG IXTTEB. Constable Dunnett, who; wae sent out to take \ charge of the bodies, described •the position in; which; .he .found :theni,_; and <the various articles discovered in the possession of Jones. 'The tag contained .letters from Sir- Joseph -Waird' and r Mr. Massey to Jonee*;concerning the release of Mra.VWebster from the institution. A letter fronu Lord Kit chener stalted he was unable to'grant Jones an interview. There was" alsp~a letter dated October 30, 1906, from Sunny side Asylum, addressed, to "My Dear Beatrice,", ~and, ending with "Your affectionate brother, Lil," an 4is eupr posed to have come from Lionel-Terry. Another letter was an acknowledgment from. Sir J. Ward, of, a congratulatory message, from Jones on the occasion of the New Zealand Government's presentation of a battleship to the Mother Country. ' The Coroner: He seems to have been pushing himself 'to the front. . <>■. Dr. Beattie: He • was looking for a Government billet. '.. ■ The conetable produced a further letter found in the bag, and in Jones' handwriting, addressed to the Coroner, covering seven sheets of paper on both eides. In this various matters are referred to—some in a connected manner, and others in a rambling way, and in a reference to Miss Webster'e mental condition, says: "Death is far'more preferable than a long life of insanity, especially to a woman of high degree and birth." I WISH TO DIE MITK HERBERT. ' ■. ■ S ,:, ■: In another part of the letter he says: —"I have done it out of respect, and the great love I have )f or Mrs Webster and her children. I am alone responsible, though.it is done at her earnest wish." Amongst other matters referred to is a wish-to be cremated. Two brief notes were produced, written on-pieces of paper by Mrs Webster. One reads: "It is my sole wish to die with Herbert and I have asked him to-help mc. The world is too dark and dreary." The second note is is follows:—"It is my wish to die with Herbert, Vera, Ronald, and ba.by Cecil, and let all lie buried'together. That lis Bow my sole .wish. This is written "in my right senses. • The■world is too rotten and 'dark;"' ■. . Dr. Beattie informed the. Coroner that a member of the Mental Hospital staff overheard the' two deceased speaking, aqd gathered (hat Jones was dictating letters that Mrs Webster was writing. Dr. Milsom, who made the post mortem examination, stated that all the indications pointed to death by cyanide poisonTlie jury returned a; verdict to the effect that Mrs Webster died from cyanide poisoning, administered by Herbert Jones. ;s _, v • • ; The inquest on Jones is proceeding.