HOTEL TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12529, 15 April 1935, Page 3

HOTEL TRAGEDY

DTOA.THS OF TJOKN P i//. A IS' D win-: SEQUEL TO DOMESTIC TROUBLE At the inquest concerning the deaths of .Tames Alfred Duncan, licensee of ihe I!ova 1 Oak Hotel, "Wellington, and Tilt's Duncan, who were found shot, in their room at the hotel shortly after six o'clock on the morning, of March 24. Margaret Winifred Duncan, daughter of the ■*deceased, Said that up to March 24 she was employed in the office of the- Hoyrtl Oak Hotel. She returned to New Zealand from Australia with her parents about flanuaary. 1933. Soon after arriving m New Zealand her father took over flic* management of the Royal Oak HotH. On Saturday, March 28, at about 7.0 f) p.m. her mother left the hotel accompanies by Mr and Mrs 1. Hart and. she understood that they all attended a picture theatre. She herself attended a. dance, and returning about midnight. She sa-w her father about half an hour later and dfid nott notice anything l unusual about, liim. She heard him So into his bedroom, which was next door to the sitting room. At about 1 а. ro. she .went to hoc bedroom; which was next- door T.u| one to that of her parents. She dij not recollect waking up at all in the night, and dal not hear any shots fired. At about б. a.m. she /was awakened by a member of the staff, who A ofd her of the tragedy. She did IK, ti into her parents' bedroom. Witness said she knew there had been domestic, trouble between her parents for some time prior, to the tragedy. Her father had brusht. two pistols from Australia in 1933 Ho declared one, an automatic.‘which was returned to and h e retained the other, a revolver. Isaac Hart, an importer, living at Eastbourne, said that he had known Mr and Mrs Duncan for approximately twenty and since their return to New Zealand hp had been closely associated with them. For about five months prior to November 1931, he resided at the Royal 'Oak Hotel and saw a good deal of them during that period. To his knowledge they did not have any quarrels of a serious nature. About 6.46 p.m. on Saturday evening, March 23 witness and! his wife wont with Mrs Duncan to a picture theatre. Afterwards witness drove, the two ladies hack to the hotel, whore, with Mr. Duncauj they had supper in the private sitting room. They remained in tho sitting, room until. about 11.30 when witness and Mrs Hart left to go home. They, left Mrs Duncan alone in the room, and that was tlie last they saw of her. Air. Duncan accompanied them downstairs and l wished them good-night a.t tho front door. That was tho last time bo and his wife saw Air Duncan. '.No intoxicating liquor whatever was consumed at tho liquor party/' .witness added. ‘Air Duncan appeared to ho in liis normal state of health. I could see no difference in him at all, and it was a great shock to mo when I heard of the tragedy.'’