YELLOW JOURNALISM.
THE BRUNNER TRAGEDY. PAPERS CONDUCT INQUIRY. BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT. LONDON, Nov. 8. Sir John Brunner, giving evidence at the inquiry into the Brunner tragedy, said that if his brother knew his wife had been visiting the newspapers regarding his business affairs, it would have exasperated him without measure. It would even have turned his brain. Witness added that his brother recently suffered a serious blow in his retirement from the chairmanship of the Brunner Mond Company, following u,pon an unforunate business deal involving the loss of thousands. Then the knowledge that he had not been given a place on the board of the recently formed chemical group, in which his own company had merged, was ail acute disappointment to him and to his wife.
The couple lived on affectionate terms, but the wife was moody and sometimes difficult. Her. interference in her husband’s business affairs greatly distressed Roscoe Brunner. The latter’had loyally abided by the decision of his colleagues, but his wife' refused to accept it. Brunner’s financial position was of the soundest. It was a question of personal pride and not finance. The coroner, in summing up, protested against the manner in which the newspapers had .conducted their own inquiry, and arrived at a verdict. He suggested that provision 'should be inserted in the Coroners’ Bill now pending in the House of -Commons to regulate the publication of such comment before an inquiry. A verdict was returned of murder and suicide while of unsound mind. The jury endorsed the condemnation of newspaper publicity. [A cable dated November 4 stated: Roscoe Brunner and his wife were found late at niglit in Green Cottage in Putney, shot dead. Mrs ißrunner had a wound in her head and IBrunner in the body. The two dined at seven o’clock, ordering the chauffeur to call for them at 7.30 o’elcok. When he called lie was informed they were still dining, and waited till ten o’clock. When the butler entered he found, the couple lying dead over the table in a pool of blood, and nearby a revolver with two spent cartridges.] SECRECY AT FUNERAL. BODIES CREMATED. Received 10.44 a.m. to-day.' LONDON, Nov. 9. There was marked secrecy at the funeral of the Brunners. Only the Undertaker’s men attended. They were in closed cars. There were no wreathes. The cortege made a lengthy detour, twice circling Woking, before entering the crematorium. The bodies were cremated behind locked doors.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 10 November 1926, Page 5
Word Count
405YELLOW JOURNALISM. Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 10 November 1926, Page 5
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