FATHER AND SON GASSED

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 103, 25 January 1930, Page 12

FATHER AND SON GASSED

DEMENTED NAVAL MAN’S SUICIDE WORRIED OVER PENDING DIVORCE SUIT NOTES LEFT ON PLAYING CARDS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 24. Demented by the thought of pending divorce proceedings, George Daniel Danaford, aged 29, a naval rating/ living at Kiwi Road, Devonport, last night killed himself by gas poisoning, and took his only child, Dennis, aged three years, to death with him. Stifling gas fumes filled the house when the police forced their way through the front door, strongly barricaded with furniture, about 1 o’clock this morning. In the kitchen Danaford was found wjth his head in the oven. About: three feet away, surrounded with toys with which he had been playing when the gas fumes overcame him, lay the child, face downwards. Notes scrawled on pages of a school drawing book stating that he intended to kill himself and take the child with him were left by Danaford. Messages were also left on the joker and three of hearts from a pack of playing cards. Domestic Unhappiness. For some months, it: is stated, there had been unhappiness in the Danaford home, and the man and his wife had been separated at intervals. About a week ago Mrs. Danaford left him to live with Mr. H. Bolton and his family, whose home is at the foot of Cautley Road, only fifty yards from the Danaford house. Last evening Danaford called at Bolton’s to take the child, Dennis, to the pictures. When he had not brought the child back by 10.45 Mr. Bolton went round to Danaford’s house, but could get no answer to his knocks. Not long afterwards, fearing that Danaford n?ay have carried out a threat which he had made, Mr. Bolton called the police, who forced their way into the house a few minutes before 1 a.m. Danaford .was found with his head in the oven and the child was lying face downwards on the floor about three feet away, surrounded by toys with which he had been playing when the fumes overcame him. Danaford had died some hours before the child, and it is thought that, without touching the cliild he kept his head in the oven until he was overcome. A Threat. Many causes contributed to the unhappiness of the Danaford home. Charges were made by Danaford against his wife in the notes which he left, and it is also stated that trouble arose when he wanted to take several shipmates to his home for a party. There had been arguments over previous parties, and it was when Danaford announced his intention about a week ago of bringing other sailors to, the house again that Mrs. Danaford left him. Only a day or two later he threatened the mother and her cliild, stating his intentions to Mr. Bolton. There were occasions too when a police constable had been called into the home through Mrs. Danaford’s fear of her husband. When a few days ago a neighbour stated that she intended telling the Commander of H.M.S. Philomel, to whom Danaford was steward, that he was not treating his wife properly, and that they were going to seek a divorce, Danaford is reported to have said: “If you do that there will be murder.” It is obvious that when Danaford called for the child he had no intention of taking him to the pictures, nor as he said: “To buy him an ice cream.” The man had been dead at least four hours when he was found.

“The most beautiful little chap you could wish to meet.” was the description of the child! Dennis, given by more than one of the neighbours. \ Deceased’s Mental Condition, It is unquestionable that when Danaford wrote the notes and messages on playing cards he was not mentally normal. His grammar and spelling were imperfect, and on more than one occasion he contradicted himself. Visions of after life were expressed in language which could hardly, be understood. On the three of hearts was scrawled the sinister message: “Your death sign, Mrs. Danaford,” while on, the joker from the same pack war another reference in which the man displayed the workings of his mind. One of the notes and the two cards were found on® the table of the kitchen, while the other note was concealed behind a picture on the wall. The only sign of disorder found by the police when they entered the house was a pile of furniture which had been used as a barricade behind the front door. The house, containing four rooms, was very clean, and all the rooms were tidily kept. The two front rooms were locked and all the windows shuttered. A number of naval hats were found in one room. Surrounding the dwelling are wellkept garden beds and lawns. Excellent Record in Navy. George Daniel Danaford was 29 years of age and a naval officers’ steward, first class. He joined the navy for home service in 1919 and was transferred to the New Zealand station a year later. He was on the Chatham in 1920 and afterwards on the Dunedin and Diomede, his last ship being the Philomel, where he was steward to Commander Nelson Clover. Commander Clover stated this morning that Danaford had nn excellent record. . He was a good steward and attended to his duties well. He was inclined to be a little forgetful, but apart from that was a first-class man. The Commander knew that Danaford- had been troubled over domestic affairs. “He had an interview with me yesterday morning.” said Commander Clover, "and asked me to advise him concerning the pending divorce suit. He wanted to know what the costs would be and matters of that sort. I informed him that I had no acquaintance with such proceedings, but I referred him to nn Auckland firm of solicitors and I personally telephoned one of the principals. I said that Danaford was going to consult him and naked the lawyer to do what he could for him. Danaford appeared to me to be quite normal.” INQUEST HELD Dominion Speciai Service. Auckland. January 24. Evidence that Danaford had ill-treated his wife was given at an inquest which was opened by the Coroner (Mr. F. K. Hunt.) S.M.). A verdict of suicide b.v gas poisoning was returned in the case of the father, George Daniel Danaford. Death by gas poisoning was the verdict in the case of the child. Dennis, the Coroner adding that the father committed suicide by that means and kept the child in the room while so doing. The letters left by the father showed intention that the child should die. A Naval funeral ha« been arranged.