TRAGEDY ON FARM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20618, 20 November 1941, Page 9

TRAGEDY ON FARM

BURNING HOUSE WIFE FOUND DEAD INJURIES TO HUSBAND (Per Press Association.) GORE, this day. A distressing tragedy involving the death of a young married woman in mysterious circumstances and injuries to her husband occurred at Moa Flat, near Heriot, in the early hours of this morning. The victim of the tragedy is Mrs. Mary Flaxman, aged 25 years, a married woman with one child aged 15 months. Her husband, Charles Henry Flaxman, a farm labourer, has been admitted to the Tapanui Hospital and is under police protection. Details of the tragedy are very meagre. Mr. and Mrs. Flaxman were living in a cottage on the property of Mr. A. J. Hodgkin, Moa Flat, and the information received indicates that about 1.30 o’clock this morning the neighbours were roused by a fire in the building. Steps were immediately taken to extricate the three persons from the burning building and it is understood that Mrs. Flaxman was dead when rescued from the cottage. Mr. Flaxman and the baby girl were brought to safety and steps were taken to convey Mr. Flaxman to the Tapanui Hospital. Husband’s Condition Not Serious

Dr. R. G. Stokes, Gore, was summoned and gave medical attention to the injured man. It is understood that his injuries are not serious and that the child is not injured in any way.

The cottage was totally destroyed by fire. Constable W. Coatsworth, Tapanui was on the scene soon after the tragedy and it is understood that detectives have been despatched from Dunedin to assist the local police ir investigations. The nature of Mrs. Fiaxman’s injuries are not disclosed, but information received suggests that her head had been battered. Mr. Flaxman was rescued from the cottage by Mr. G. M. Love, Moa Flat. Mr. Flaxman has been a resident of Moa Flat for about five years and he was married at Christchurch about three years ago, since when he has been working for Mr. Hodgkin. Mrs. Flaxman had lived in the district for some years before her marriage. Police Superintendent O’Hara, Detective-Sergeant Hall, Detective Brown and Dr. D’Ath, pathologist, Dunedin, have proceeded to the scene.