HUIRANGI TRAGEDY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 July 1928, Page 5

HUIRANGI TRAGEDY

HOMOCIDE AND SUICIDE. WHILST MENTALLY DERANGED MOTHER’S TERRIBLE ACTION.

•v That Eleanor Emma Surrey, aged 49, met her death through shock and haemorrhage caused by a gunshot wound, self-inflicted, during a -state of meantai disturbance; and that Berys Minnie Surrey, aged 19, met her death through shock and haemorrhage- caused by a' gun-shot- wound inflicted-, by her mother while- she was in a state of mental distress.

Such were the verdicts of the coroner (Mr. R. W. T-ate, S.M.) at New Plymouth yesterday, when an inquest was conducted into the circumstances which led to the discovery of the mother and daughter shot dead in a bedroom in their home at Huirangi early in the morning of June 18. The inquest was conducted by Inspector Fraser. Dr. R. L. G. Barclay said on arrival at the Surrey homestead lie was met by Surrey, who said lie was awakened by a noise and had found his wife and daughter shot. In the room he found the daughter on a- bed in a- state of cadaveric spasms. Mrs. Surrey lay at the f-o-ot of a double bed. He was struck by the fact that- the- gun was upright, and concluded someone had picked it up.. He found both women were dead, but did not disturb the room at all. The- positions of the bodies and the spasms of the daughter suggested the girl was -awakened a fraction of a second before the shot was fired and, sensing something terrible, had made a defensive movement. Apparently she died first. The facts- fitted in with Surrey’s statements made to him. Dr. G. P. Adamson said' he found Mrs. Surrey lying on her face with hexhands and arms under the body. MEDICAL CONCLUSIONS.

There was a wound about two inches below the left breast. The shot had penetrated the walls of the chest, and death was probably instantaneous. There was a corresponding hole- in the clothing, and the edges of the wound were scorched, apparentiiy by gunpowder. The direction of the wound was almost at right angles to the surface of the body, with an inclination downwards.

Leaning ugaiiist the smaller bed was a -single-bar rfe 1 breech-loading gun. The position was peculiar and lacked explanation,' as- the gun was upright ancl pointing towards the ceiling. The slightest touch would have knocked itover. There was an empty shot cartridge in the breech, a- number 16 bore. Another empty cartridge case was found in the bed. Mrs. ’ Surrey viis wearing one stocking only, t-lie other being found close to the bed. The body of Miss Surrey was covered up to the shoulders by the bedclothes. She had been dead some hours. There wa-s a wound about an inch in diameter near the left breast, it was reasonable to assume sbo met her death while asleep, and that the bedclothes had been drawn down while the shot was fired and then replaced. The wounds on both women appeared to have been inflicted at a distance of less than three feet. He concluded that tlie- girl died from shock and baemorhage caused by the wound. He did not believe the gun was fired through the open window, a-s the shot had not -spread, and in that event the direction would have been different. It was evident the wound had- not been self-inflicted.

In the doctor’s opinion Mrs-. Surrey died from shock and haemorrhage- following a wound, -self-inflicted. ’Probable the stocking of the right foot had been re moved to facilitate pulling thetrigger. The trigger had a very light and dangerous pull—prabablv of half a. pound instead of three. There were -snots of blood on the- butt of the- gun. which was produced in court. COMPLAINT OF INSOMNIA. During the two mouth® before t-hp In.oail-ity, staid Dr. D. IC. Brown, Mr® Surrey had consulted him several, times. She wa,s .suffering piom a. very Hugh hl-ood pressure and cmnnlained oi" sleeps le-ssnes® and Ji-eadac.ie. She wa-s treated and between April 16 -and May Li tin-, blood pressure was reduced from 269 to less than 220. \ No further neductxm had been made on-the last occasion slue consulted the- doctor, and he emphasised the need lor complete rest and a. change if possible. To the inspector: The fact- that- the high blood pressure had 1 caused hv-ad-achps and insomnia wound n-a.tuira.lly tend to mental depression. Antiiiving at the Surrey’s place- about noon on the Sunday, the day before- tt-lie tragedy. Golden Stevens, farm labourer, -of Egm-ont Village,, aged 24, .spent- the afternoon and evening there, .ail'd Bery® Surrey saw him off about 11 p.m. He had been keeping company w-iith her foils months and they were engaged, he sad. Her health- seemed absolutely nica-mal! when he Left the house-. Mrs Surrey looked very ill before -she retired between 7 and 8 p.m. She had tokl him -she had had only one- hour’s gleep during the week. About 9.30 p.m. sibe called to her daughter for a- drink. H-e knew Air® Surrey took isileeping draughts. The family generally seemed on irood terms-.

Percy Henry Surrey, 24 years cf a|ge, said- that on June i 7 h-e -left- home about 3 p.m. and returned about 12.3 D a.-.m. next day. Everyone was iu bed, and he went to bed too-. About 1.30 a.m. his father fame to ’h-i-m and tul’d him what he had -seen in the room. H’i-s mother had been occupying the -same room, for the hist three years, during which time hits father had been suffering from heart trouble.

AWAKENED BY SCREAM

The gun, which was luis property, wa-s us-uiai-ly kept in the kitchen, and- the cartridges- in liis room. On this occasion however they were left on theporch. lli,s mother had never expre-ssea suicidal intentions. lie hea-id no- shots fired.

Percy Harold 1 E. Surrey said that after tea, lie and his wife-sat before the fire in hi® bedroom. About 7 p.m. -she left to go to bed, first bringing him a cup of water:. His room and his wife’s were in the- front of the hou am, on opposite sides of the hall. Lait-e that night, he was awakened by the- demnds of Stevens leaving the lionise-, and thi?n be heard his daughter go to- bed. A muffled sound -and a “kind of ©cream” woke- him about 1.30 a.m-. About the same time that he found. afight lie hyiard a tihncl in hi® wife’s room-. The door was- locked and he couildl nob force it-. He -entered from the verandah through, the window. A candle was burning and his wife was stretched on the floor at tlie foot of tlie. bed. His daughter wa-s lying on the other bed gasping for breath. Allis Surrey had appeared normal, though not talkative, while she wtais in his room. They wore on affectionate terms. Airs Surrey seemed to worry over her daughter a little.

iVo letters nor papers were found that would show the cauise of ithi3 tragedy, said Constable Palmer, who searched the room.

Recalled by the coroner. Dr. AdaimSou safd that . most of the - conditions preceding suicide were .generally associated with prolonged insomnia. The brain got tired out. It was evident that Mrs Surrey’*? blood pressure was exceedingly high and her insomnia would aggravate the existing condition. The verdicts, were given as indicated.