DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1932, Page 8

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

FATHER AND SON

FOUND DEAD IN BED

GAS STOYE TURNED ON

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, 31st July

A double tragedy, involving the death of a child, aged 5 years, and his father, occurred in a flat in TVynyard street on Saturday night, the bodies of father and son being discovered in bed this morning... The father was William Charles Morrison, aged 50 years, a married man residing apart from his wife, while the son was John Albert Morrison, aged 5 years, an only child.

The boy, who lived with his mother, Mrs. Ida Morrison, a nurse, of Northcote, was visiting his father for the week-end. The child'--arrived on. the visit to .his father on Friday afternoon. On Saturday the pair went to see the League test match at Carlaw Park, but before the game was finished the father, who had been in ill-health for the past three months, complained of feeling unwell, and they returned to his apartment.

After they had taken their evening meal the boy was put to bed at about 9 o 'clock, the father playing- cards with the owner of the house and others until about 110.30, when he retired. ' He then appeared to be depressed. About 9 o'clock this morning the owner of the house went to the bedroom with the deceased's breakfast but after knocking received no reply. She then noticed a smell of gas and notified other residents of. the house, one of whom summoned the police. CONSTABLES' DISCOVERY. Constables, on arrival, found both father and son in bed, death having taken place several hours previously. The bodies.were lying side by sids in a threequarter-sized bed. The father, who was dressed in pyjamas and shirt, was lying on-his back in a natural position, while the son, who was also in his night attire, lay in an attitude of repose. Both were covered by blankets and two rugs, which were not disturbed. The constables discovered that the gas had been allowed to eseape from a gas-heater, which was turned on, but not lighted, and stood afthe foot of the bed. This heater was .connected with several feet of .flexible tubing to a gas stove fed through, a slot meter. Two windows in the room were closely shut. A scarf had been placed over a cracK at the top of the door, and an old sheet had been stuffed into a ventilator in a kitchenette adjoining the bedroom. . " .

In the pocket pf the son's pyjamas was ik.note asking his father to "tell him fairy stories in the morning." Morrison /was formerly in the employ of the Electric Power Board, whose service he joined in 1909. He saw war service, losing "one leg, and. on .his return rejoined the board's staff. About three months ago he retired, giving as his reason ill-health and stating that, after a holiday, he intended; to join his .sister in business 1. n., w Plymouth- On his retirement tributes to his work were paid by mem-" bers of the board. His mother, Mrs. Isaac Morrison, is a resident of "New Plymouth. ' :