SURPRISE TURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 8

SURPRISE TURN.

HUSBAND ARRESTED.

CHARGE OF MURDER.

MOTHER AND CHIUD'S DEATH.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, May 27

A striking development was reported last Tuesday in the investigations conducted by the police into the deaths, of Mrs. Gash and her infant son on May 7 at Morundah.

It should be remembered that early in the morning of that day the Gash hoirestead was seen to be on fire and four children sleeping on the verandah escaped with some difficulty. The mother and the baby, however, had disappeared and when the fire died down their bodiee were found among the ashee half consumed. In both beads there was the mark of a bullet and the police came to the conclusion that while there was a possibility that Mrs. Gash may have killed her baby and then committed duicide, the more probable theory was murder, with robbery as the motive ■behind it. Against this was the evidence of hueband and neighbours that Mrs. Gaeh was not in the least likely to kill herself and her child; and a. subsequent discovery by the police put the eukide idea out of Court completely. The ekulls were brought down to Sydney for examination and it was discovered that Mrs. Gash had been shot twice, either wound being fatal. Police Redouble Efforts. This was now obviously a case of murder and the detectives redoubled their efforts to find some clue worth following up. A further search wae made in the ruins of the house, the ashes were sifted, and three bullets were found, all fitting the .22 rifle, of which the remains had already been discovered. The ballistic experts assured the Criminal Investigation Bureau that the 'bullets had been fired from this gun, and drawing certain inferences and deductions the police took a decisive step. They arrested William Gash, the husband and father of the two victims of this gruesome tragedy, and charged him with murder.

The coroner's inquest, at which at lea*t 30 witnesses will give evidence, is fixed for Tuesday next, and Gash lias been remanded until June 1.

It should be remembered that Gash had gone away from home on the night of the murder. He is a contractor and was doing some road work a few miles away; and on that particular night he went to his camp to look after his horses and their feed. He was not seen at Morundah till the next day and no doubt the police have checked up on hie movements carefully in the interval. However, further conjectures about the crime and ite perpetrator must wait till after the inquest next week.