HEAD BATTERED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20618, 20 November 1941, Page 6

HEAD BATTERED

DEAD WOMAN MOA FLAT TRAGEDY HUSBAND'S WOUNDS (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. Further details of the Moa Flirt tragedy show that the body of a married woman, Mrs. Marion Beatrice Flaxman, aged 25, whose head was severely battered, was recovered from a cottage at Moa Flat which was completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of yesterday morning. The woman’s husband, Mr. Charles Henry Flaxman, aged 3(1, is a patient In the Tapariui Hospital suffering from a wound in the throat.

Mr. Flaxman has been in the employ of a farmer, Mr. A. J. Hodgkin, living in a cottage on the property with His wife and infant daughter. Early yesierday morning, a neighbour, Mr. J. Garden, heard cries for help and, going outside, he saw the cottage ablaze. He ran across the intervening paddock and found Mr. Flaxman coming from the house carrying the child in his arms, whereupon he entered the burning building arid brough Mrs. Flaxman outside. He thought at first she was suffering from fumes and applied artificial respiration, but an examination disclosed severe wounds on the head. Mr. Hodgkin meantime had been summoned by Mr. Flaxman who told him that “Marion had been badly burned.” He accompanied Mr. Flagman to the cottage but on arrival' there the latter allegedly ran behirid a stable where, following later, Mr. Hodgkin found him with a throat wound.

The hospital reports that his injurib are not serious.

The inquest was later opened and adjourned.