COUPLES FOUND DEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 December 1933, Page 7

COUPLES FOUND DEAD

OUTBACK FARM TRAGEDY

SEQUEL TO QUARREL

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

GISBORNE, December 16. The small soldiers’ settlement of Wharekaka, four miles from Tolaga Bay, which is 36 miles north of Gisborne, was the scene of a terrible tragedy in the early hours of this morning, when a woman was found dead with a fractured skull, and later her husband’s body was discovered in a milking shed with a bullet wound iq. the head.

The deceased were Amelia Martin. 32 or 33 years of age, and her husband,, Henry Martin, better known as ‘‘Kelly.” Martin, about 53 years of age. Bdth were well-known residents of the -district.

Early this morning^ijj^'Canning, t0.,1n-; snector ” *-ha the woman 1 garden at her home, apiparejitly,.mur-’ dered, and that the husband was . n Uss j ing. The woman’s body-wa r J’ f :oveic.d j with a sack and an oilskin;. ; r ; I Suspecting the man had taken to th .-J bush, a party comprising Inspector ! O’Halloran, Senior-Sergeant Waffij' Plain-clothes Constable King, and aisle | Mr. E. L. Walton, Coroner, left Gis-i borne about 7 a.m. On' ari-ival at Toiaga Bay, they were met by Constab'e Canning, who reported that he had found the husband inthe milking about 150 yards from the bouse. Tlie r e was evidence that Martin had iakeijaa gun to the shed, tied a strap toVtfie. trigger, placed the muzzle ira his mouth, and then pulled the strap lown with his foot.

The woman had Loen struck with a blunt instrument, • while in the bedroom, her skull being fractured. Her body was the.’ carried out ir the garden and !)!..•’• in the position where it was found. 1? ' • 11

Coroner v.’ulwn- an inquest; and after identification ' proceeding'll,’ adjourned it till Friday-jo' ' The cofiple had led aih unhappy- life, and the woman had 1/gft' honie pending proceedings for a siyparation order, but she returned hoip/e befofs the adtion was heard. Th e woman waS at the picture show Tolaga Bay on Saturday night, arid when she'returned, it is under«VJ’od, a violent quarrel en:sucd. ; f Frcm what chn be gathered, it appeTY's that the woman’ was struck by fill iron bolt, and the body was takOit* into the garden, it was found. Deceased leave, 'a family of five, the eldest being 12 years old.

GULL’S DRAMATIC STORY.

'.FAREWELL INSTRUCTIONS.

GISBORNE, December 18. ie, A lucid account of the happenings 'ch the night of the tragedy at Tolaga Bay was given by the (laughter, who described the wrangling kept up by her parents till a late hour, her father’s carrying the body of his 'life out of the house, and his return a few minutes later. Then he took the baby from one corner of the room, and placed it in bed with the boy, telling him that he must always look after it. Then, to the eldest girl, he said that her mother had' gone for ever, and he himself must go away. Ho bade his five children a tender farewell, urging the eldest girl to do her best for the others, and especially for the baby. The girl kept vigil with the children for several hours, till daylight, and then she ’phoned to the police.

AUCKLAND COUPLE GASSED.

AUCKLAND, December 17.

A double tragedy was discovered on the Remuera Road at 8 o’clock this morning, when William Brander, aged 60 years, a man well-known in Auckland business circles, and his wife, Ruth Mary Scott Brander, aged 42 years, (were found dead in their kitchen. Gas-poisoning is-presumed to be the cause of death. Brander was manager of Collins Bros.’ branch in Auckland. He and his wife had been residents of New Zealand for some 18 years. Previously they lived in England, where Brander was a stockbroker. It is understood that an unsigned note led the maid employed at the house to communicate with a doctor, and the tragedy was then discovered. The bodies were lying on the floor, pillows being beneath the heads of the husband and wife. Gas, escaping from the oven, was turned off, and police assistance was obtained. The Branders did not have any chilelren. Brander had lately been in nl health. It is understood that the doctor’s verdict was disquieting. Prior to coming to New Zealand in 1915, Brander was a member ot the London Stock Exchange. He was a keen sports enthusiast, a. member 01 the Middlemore Golf Club, and wellknown as a tennis and billiard playei, and was a member of the Northern Club. He was married in 1919. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST, AUCKLAND, December IS. The inquest into the <lp liam Brander, 61, and his wife,. Ruth Mary Scott Brander, 42, who were found dead yesterday in the gas-filled kitchen of their home in Remuera, was opened this morning. Evidence was given by the maid, that she found' the kitchen door locked, and smelt gas. She had seen them about at 11.15 o’clock on Satuiday night, in the kitchen, and they appeared to be quite cheerful. Other evidence showed that a note addressed to the maid was left on the telephone, in Mrs Brander’s handwiiting. She had also left a note for her married sister, indicating their intention of committing suicide. In the kitchen, Brander was found lying on the floor, close to the gas stove, with his head on hjs wiles knees. - Sh£ was lying with her head on a cushion. A doctor said that he had been attending Brander, who was suffering from an incurable disease. His days were numbered. The wife knew the seriousness of her husband’s illness, and had been very depressed. The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide by gas poisoning.