GISBORNE TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1944, Page 3

GISBORNE TRAGEDY

WOMAN’S RAZOR WOUNP-

FOLLOWS FEAR FROM ILLNESS,

p.A GISBORNE, August 21. Mrs. Jean Bardwell, aged 49, died en route to hospital as the result 01 a throat wound inflicted by a razor, and her husband was admitted to hospital suffering from a blow on the forehead over the left eye as the idsuit of an affrey in a bedroom at their home this morning, lhe dead woman allegedly attached her husband before inflicting injuries on In the house besides Bardwell and his wife was their son, Harold Gregg Bardwell, Wellington, and two women visitors from the South Island. In a statement to the police, xepeated later at the inquest which. was opened this morning by the District Coroner Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M., the son stated that shortly after 5 a.m. to-day he was awakened, by his father ing from the bedroom he occupied with his wife. He met his father emerging with blood flowing from a cut on his forehead. He assisted his father to the dining room and entered the bedroom, where his mother was kneeling on the floor with a toottie of disinfectant in her hands and holding some of the fluid in her mouth. Hel took the bottle from her and called one of the visitors to aid him m calming his mother, whom he left for only a minute or two. When he returned to the bedroom he found her lying on the bed with a .towel covering a wound in her throat. On the floor beside the bed was his father’s razor. Mrs. Bardwell was sent to hospital, but died en route. Her husband was later sent to hospital for the treatment of his head injury, which appeared to have been caused by a blow from a blunt object, possibly the bottle which contained the disinfectant. . The inquest was adjourned sine die. During recent months Mrs. Bardwell had been suffering from a painful illness and had developed a fear that this might prove more serious tone had been nursed by her husband. STRANGLED BY HANDKERCHIEF INQUEST ON CHINESE. P.A. WATROA, August 21. Giving evidence at the inquest on Sue Bing, who was found dead on July 15, under what the police termed suspicious circumstances. Doctor L. A. Riddell stated the body was found in a fantastic attitude with a handkerchief knotted at the back, and tied round the throat. Although this was somewhat loose when found, there was evidence that at the time of death it was tight. Witness was of opinion that death was due to strangulation. The Government Pathologist, Di. Lynch, in a report concurred with Dr Riddell’s opinipn, adding that m cases' of slow strangulation bizarre and almost impossible attitudes may b e taken by the victim. He was also of the opinion that deceased had tied the handkerchief round his own neck. Mr C. V. Chamberlain, appearing for the Chinese Consul objected to this statement, but agreed that death was due to strangulation. The Coroner (Mr. V. E. Wintei.. said that Sue Bing’s death had been the subject of considerable comment and conjecture. The Crown had gone ( some lengths to throw light on the matter and dispel these rumours. Medical evidence showed the c. au s. e otl Z r death could have been self-inflicted, either accidentally, deliberately 01 by suicidal impulse. He returned an open verdict that the cause of death was strangulation.