A WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15769, 9 December 1916, Page 9

A WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

SUPPOSED MURDER AND SUICIDE, (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 8. This morning the dead bodies of Emily Thomas, 33 yoars of age, and Gilbert Marshall, &ged about 40, were found on the floor of a bedroom of the house in Cambridge terrace which had been the residence of the -woman. Sordid circumstances surround the tragedy, about -which there is, more or less, an air of mystery. The woman, who kept a small shop, was last seen dive at 10.30 last night, when some visitors left her. Everything then appeared to be normal. This morning, at 8 o'clock, a milkman named McDonald went to tho house, as was his daily custom, to do some cleaning work. He knocked, but could obtain no response, and going round to the rear of the premises got through £n open window. All was quiet within. On opening the door of the woman's bedroom, ho saw her lying on the floor dead. Marshall, who'had posed as her husband, was lying on the floor beside her. The police were informed, and investigation provided indications of foul play. It was evident that a struggle had taken place, as the room was in considerable disorder, and a small table was broken. Tho woman's body bore marks of violence, and tho assumption is that she was strangled by the man, who then took poison. A glass which had contained some offensive smelling liquid was found beside his body, and his appearance was consistent with that of a man who had died in such a manner. .

The woman was one of tho nnfortunate class. She was some months ago convicted of keeping what was termed a. one woman brothel," bnt this conviction was subsequently quashed by the Chief Justice.

Marshall, who was an Australian, was a big, powerful man, over six feet in height, and between lost and 16st in weight.