DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 August 1924, Page 5

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

IN FASHIONABLE, FLAT. HUSBAND AND WIFE. END OF RESOURCES. BY CABLE—PBESB ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT, LONDON, Aug. 9. . A curious double tragedy occurred m a block of fashionable fiats at Jermyn Street. Mrs Geddes rushed downstairs, shrieklng tdlat her husband had shot himself. She then returned to the fiat while u _ doctor was being summoned. Almost immediately another shot was heard, and both husband and wife were found mortally wounded. The husband was Captain T. J. R. Geddes, who was home on leave from the Indian Army. The couple had been married only nine months, and were due to return to Bombay to-day.

A letter discovered began: ‘ ‘Dearest wife, —We have come to the end of oia resources, and, as arranged between ourselves, 1 am going to shoot myself.” One theory is that the wife committed suicide with her husband’s revolver from grief at his loss. Another theory is that there was a death pact, and, when tile husband shot himself the wife’s courage failed. She gave the alarm, but recovered her nerve, when she re-entered the flat and shot herself with the same weapon.

Apparently the young couple were penniless. They had been theatregoing and frequenting night clubs. As tar as eouJd be discovered, they have no relatives.

Received Aug. 11, 9.25 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 10. The Sunday Express has ascertained that Mrs. Geddes wa>s the daughter of Sir Frank Sly, Governor of the Central Provinces of India, to whom Captain Geddes was aide-de-campe.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.