PT. CHEVALIER TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1928, Page 9

PT. CHEVALIER TRAGEDY.

MAN AND WIFE SHOT.

OPENING OF INQUESTS.

EVIDENCE OP IDENTIFICATION,

An inquiry into the tragedy at No. 12, Raymond Street, Point Chevalier, about four o clock yesterday morning v. as commenced this morning when inquests were opened before the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., concerning the deaths of Peter William Clos, aged about 32, and Beatrice Mabel Clos, aged about 40, who were found shot.

Evidence of identification was given in both cases by Constable Luke Spellman, of Point Chevalier, who had known the deceased for the past eighteen months. The inquiry was then adiourned sine die.

The detectives in charge of the case expect to have the necessary evidence ready by the end of next week.

Some Personal Details,

It is believed that the late Peter Clos was of German extraction, but his military discharge, found by the police aftec a thorough search of the house yesterday afternoon, showed that he was born in London, and had been discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October, 1917, as unfit for active service on account of wounds received in action. His service amounted to one year and 244 days. Clos married soon after his return to civil life, Mrs. Clos being a „ widow with two daughters and a son. The name of her husband, as stated yesterday, was Barnett.

Mrs. Croad, who discovered the body of Clos at the back door just before noon yesterday, was too upset to make any statement to newspapermen early in the afternoon, but later in the day she stated that the late Mrs. Clos had suffered from nerve trouble after the birth of-her youngest chili She had had a - bad attaekof brain fever soon after the child was born, and' this had left, her subject to severe headaches. Recently, she had been unable to sleep properly. Doctors had been unable to give her relief. She had stated that recently she had been taking increasing doses of a powerful drug. Whenever she was suffering from a bad attack of nerves, Mrs. Clos would shut herself in the house, and refuse to answer the door-bell.

Clos won the Auckland . provincial middleweight championship in 1914, and retained the title up till the time whqa he joined the N.Z.E.F. Seven or eight years ago, Clos appeared in a number of welterweight bouts, after recovering from a wrist wound. Well-known people connected with boxing, state that Clos was of sober and steady habits, that he always fought clean, and was regarded as "a thorough gentleman," although of a quiet and reserved disposition. Mr. Matt Hatton, whose long connection with the sport of boxing is well known, told a "Star" representative yesterday that he had a conversation with Clos on Monday. They lunched together. Clos seemed worried about his wife's sleeplessness. "It is possible that his Avorry over his wife caused him to do what he did," said Mr. Hatton.