WOMAN'S IMPULSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 23

WOMAN'S IMPULSE.

HUSBAND'S THEORY OF TRIPLE GAS DRAMA. . SHOCK ON HOLIDAY.

A woman's "sudden brainwave or impulse,, was a theory advanced at the inquest as the cause of the bedroom gas tragedy in which Mrs. Anne Newman, 44, and her two daughters, Janet, *17, and Frances, Iβ, of Maiden Road, Kentish Town (England), lost their lives. Last year Mrs. Newman and her daughters luckily escaped gas poisoning in the same room. Thomas Newman, the husband, giving evidence, said the younger girl was at school and the other at business as a shorthand-typist. Both were happy and Wealthy girls. "I was away at Clacton," he added, "and my first intimation of the tragedy was a newspaper placard. "Essence of Happiness." "My opinion is that it was a. sudden brainwave or impulse on the part of my wife." The Coroner: Impulse to end her life? —I can only take it as that. I had very nice letters'from her. My two daughters were the essence of happiness. When you suggest a brainwave, do you mean to say that your wife was not of sound'mind?—l don't think she could have been at the time. When I went away she was perfectly happy. It must have been something sudden. She never suggested it to me in any shape or form. William Madley, a neighbour, who was called into the Newmans' house after the discovery of the tragedy, said he found the gas tube disconnected. Dr. F. Pelly expressed the opinion that Mrs. Newman fell to the floor while attempting to get to the door. Coroner (to the husband): Is there anything more you would like to say? Now is the opportunity to clear up anything. This is a friendly Court. The husband was silent, and the jury, after retiring for a few minutes, returned a verdict of death by misadventure.