AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 4

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

WOMAN DEAD, MAN IN

HOSPITAL. OVERCOME BY GAS. P.A. AUCKLAND, March 24. A ma n and his wife, both over 70 years ofi age, were found in a gasfilled room at Mt. Albert this afternoon. The woman, who was dead, was Mrs. Marion Stubbs, an old age pensioner, who lived with her husband, James Stubbs. Mr. Stubbs was unconscious when found and was taken to hospital. The suspicions of a neighbour were aroused by a strong odour of gas coming fom the Stubbs’ house and she forced open a window. She found Mrs. Stubbs lying dead on the kitchen floor and Mr. Stubbs unconscious on a couch. A glass and ‘ a bottle of salvolatile were near Mr. Stubbs. An examination showed that one end of a piece of rubber tube had been attached to a pipe leading to the gas metre and the other end to the gas stove. The gas was escaping from th© tube and was' not passing through the meter. The stove was( not turned on. The electric light in the kitchen was burning indicating that Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs were overcome last evening. The table was set up for a meal. Mr. Stubbs’ condition is serious