WAS THERE A SUICIDE PACT ?

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1949, Page 7

WAS THERE A SUICIDE PACT ?

AUCKLAND. November 8 Coroner, Mr. H. Burrows, at the inquest at Pukekohe to-day into the death at Ramarama on the night ot Oct? her 13 of Hugh Campbell Kirk, age- 29, a public works employer, Joyce Winifred Kirk, aged 22. and Mary Joyce Kirk, aged 18 months found that they died from the effects of poison gas, generated from powder strewn about the bedroom. The evidence suggested that the powder-had been deliberately distributed by the husband. The Coroner said: “Whether there has been a suicide pact or not it is quite evident that in the case of the child it was murder. It seems to be a tragedy the truth of which will never be known.” “Kirk and his wife lived happily together as far as I know and had no domestic or financial troubles,” said Alan Reid, a farm-hand, brother of Joyce Kirk. John Chisholm Kirk, brother of th e dead man, said thas Kirk was interested in bee-keeping and was skilled in the use of poisonous powder, with which he killed foul-brooding bees.