THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17318, 2 December 1921, Page 4

THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

FOREMAN'S LETTER TO CORONER (press association telkgram.) WELLINGTON, December 1. An inquest was opened to-day by Mr F. K. Hun:, Coroner, into the deaths of Foreman and his wife, the victims of the Abel Smith street tragedy on Tuesday afternoon, when the bodies of the man and his wife were found in the garden of a vacant house. Evidence was giiven by E'sio Marion Bcws, a sister ot Mrs i'oreman. Sho said sho and lier sister came to Is'ew Zealand 11 months ago. They had no friends or relatives in the .Dominion. They worked in hotels, and there mado the acquaintance of men like Foreman and Anderson (who is now undergoing a term of imprisonment). Foreman wfts intensely jealous of his wife without cause. She said he made allegations of misconduct which led to a separation. After that,he. haunted, his..wifo, meeting her going to and coming from work. He shadowed her at night. Witness was not surprised nt anything that happeued, as she thought Foreman was mad. The Coroner put in a letter addressed to him by Foreman, making allegations against his wife of misconduct with two men, and giving his reason for taking drastic steps. He said:—l married her full of hope flushed with happiness. I have lived on day by day in hopes of her returning. All is blank. I have nothing to live for—llo interest in life. My castle has fallen, and the future is what? Work, eat and sleep; a life of endless misery and then die. Mr Hunt, this is not a case of insanity, or even temporary insanity, for I am as calm to-dav as at any time in my life. I have'told my wife that I am verging an destruction, but all X get is sarcasm. I shall make one final appeal. The appeal was made on Monday morning and failed. Foreman wrote a postcript on Mon- i day night caving he told his wife his life was forfeited, and she would be I sorry too late. • _ The inquest was adjouftied till Moaday. T . I Later. During the inquest proceedings to- I day, when Elsie Bews, Mrs Foreman s sister, was giving evidence, Mr F. K. Hunt, the Coroner, asked: How came vou and your, sister to meet **nd sociate with criminals? She met Fore- j man, nild you met Anderson. t ! Witness:" We were working in hotels and we came across that class of man. We did not know they were criminals. They were nil right to us. Mr Hunt: You had nobody to iook after vou? They were both plausible scoundrels? . Sergeant Cox: Yes, sir, they were indeed. . , . Mr Hunt (to witness): It just shows how careful you must be in making accjiinintances. , ' Witness: We came out from the Uia Country together: We. had and nnbodv to look after us. We v.iint- j ed to travel. , , ' Mr Hunt: Foreman writes that he • explained his r ar t to your sister. _ Witness: T knew he h?d m prison, but I did not know that he was a. criminal.