MURDER AND SUICIDE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 June 1933, Page 5

MURDER AND SUICIDE

DEATH OF PATEA COUPLE WANGANUI -HOTEL TRAGEDY, -WIFE NOT CONSENTING PARTY OPINION OF THE CORONER “There is no evidence to show that Mrs Gordon was u- consenting party, said tno coroner (Air t>.- At. .Dixon) ah the inquest m W anganui yesterday concerning the dentils of Nellie. Goidon and Joseph Nathaniel Gordon, which occur reel in tragic emeu,instances at the .Metropolitan motel, Yvanganui, just after one o’clock on June 3. J.n the raise of Nell Gordon a verdict was re* turned that .she came by her death as Uie -result- of wounds in her throat unnoted ojv her husband. In the cos© ot Gordon the coroner .found that,, he died as tue result of a self-inflicted wound in the throat. Gordon years- of iiutl liis witc 2/. Tiio inquiry, said Mr Dixon, in giving his veidict, was of a sad and tragic nature, the happening being apparently the, result of domestic unhappiness. A, notebook was produced in' which, appeared passages, written m indelible pencil, purporting to have been signed uy both deceased,, to show-that they had agreed to die together. Evidence went to show, however,' that the writing wars that- of the husband. Detective J. Walsh, who appeared-tor the police, was definitely of opinion that the writing was that of Gordon and none of it of Ibis wife. The coroner said he was satisfied that .the writing was all that of one person. ■Charles Adams, freezing works , employee, of Patea, said that Nellie Gordon was his daughter. She married the deceased, Joseph Nathaniel Gordon, about seven or eight years ago. They had no children living. They were both devoted to one another and lived with witness on and off for the greater part of their married life. For about the past three or four months they had been living together in a Harbour Boa.nl bouse in Wilson Blood, Pa,tea.

FRIENDLY WITH ANOTHER, MAN

“Somewhere about six or seven weeks ago' I was informed that my daughter was on. very friendly terms with a, man named Stan. Thompson, of Patea,” said witness. “About a week ago—about May 26, 1933—J0e called at mv house. He was agitated and excited. He told me that he had just received a great .shock. He told me that Nell was going to clear out with Stan. Thompson and leave him (her husband), and that she was not going to have anything more to do with him. He askecll me to see Nell and try ana /et her to return to him. He said that he loved her . too much to let her go. 1 promised- him that 1 would see my 'an,•’■liter. I went to sec her on .the night of May 29. She was staying at the Albion Hotel, Patea, at-the time. X saw her at the hotel and her husband was present. 1 tried to- persuade my daughter to return to her husband, but mv pleadings were of no avail. She gave me the impression that she was infatuated with Thompson. I heard the following day that my'daughter bad gone to Wanganui. My son-in-law told-me: Gordon, followed his wife the following day. When he came back he told me that he had seen his- wife-and that she would not return to him. In that conversation, Gordon told me that lie finally said to his wife at Wangae nuii, ‘lf I had a gun with me I would have shot both of us.’ . . . and.my daughter replied: ,‘l.t would be a good job. Wo would both be out of the road,’ or words'to that effect. He said that his wife had returned the wedding ring to him. :He wa.s very depressed. Gordon did not tell me he was going to Wanganui on Saturday; June 3. I did not know that he was away from Patea until Constable Kelly informed me of the tragedy.” Witness identified a blade razor which lie said belonged to him. . Gordon could have taken the razor at any time.

“Stanley Thompson was, never at any time in my house to my knowledge,” said witness. -“I spoke.to Thompson on two occasions regarding his association with my daughter. She told me that lie. was taking her to England. I tcdd Thompson to leave my daughter alone, not to break up her home, and I•' told him that I would spend my last penny in protection of mv girl. Thompson! said that I should take no notice as similar things -had' happened before I was born and would always happen.” Witness said that on the night of June 2 he saw his son-in-law. writing in a. notebook. LEAVING FQR, SYDNEY

Mrs Annie Spooner, of U rqulyirt Street, AYaiiganui, sand that slie had resided in Paten for six years prior-to coming to the city. Her husband worked at the freezing works at Patea, and witness was friendly with the deceased, Nellie Gordon. They’ went to dances together. On Alay 30 last Airs Gordon came to the home of witness at Wanganui. She said she had left her husband and had come to witness because she had nowhere else to go. Witness agreed to put her up. Mrs Gordon told witness that she had left her husband for it man named Stan. Thompson, whom she .preferred _ She said Thompson was coming to AVanganni at the end of the .week to take her away. They were going to stay at an hotel in Wanganui and were leaving for Sydney* the next- Tuesday. _. “I asked' Airs Gordon where tlie money was coming from,” said witness, “and she told me that Thompson was getting £209 from Australia. This was being cabled to New Zealand and he was being put off relief work on account of getting the money. “On AA r ednesday, May 7 91, All's Gordon’s husband came to my house to see her,” said witness. ’’“He saw her alone. I spoke to the-two of t-liem’-to-gether-afterwards. Airs Gordon -said she was parting from her husband in a. friendly war and that they would not be bad friends.- Air Gordon 'said that he was not going to worry about it any more so long as Thompson wais pood to her. Jle said that if Thompson died or left- her she could come back to him. Air Gordon appeared resigned to the position. Alius Gordon received a telegram on Friday from Thompson asking her to meet him at the train. She read the ■ telegram to me. Airs? Gordon left mv houise about mid-dby on Saturday, June 3. She packed her snit-case before she went. . She said bhe would come back in the afternoon For, it. Siie left my house with the in+'vit,v>n o ,|- spending the night at a hotel in AVangauni with Thompson. I know that she did not lia.ve anv money.’-’

To Detective AYajlsh: She left my bo 77 se mi good suirits. We were going to a d'-roo" together that night.

Dr. G. ,T Adams said the wound in th" woman’s throat was unlike a selfinflinted wound. In his opinion both

deaths were due to haemorrhage resulting from throat wounds. DECISION: TO' SEPARATE

Stanley Thompson, single, a. relief worker a.t Patea* and) a native of Dublin,. Ireland, said that after coming to New Zealand about 1920 he went to Patea two year® ago. "When working at. the freezing works last year he became- acquainted with, the deceased Gordon and his wife. He used to meet Mrs Gordon a good deal 1 at euchre parties, and dances and they became very friendly. About a week ago she decided to leave her husband. “I understand that Gordon was agreeable to this,” said witness-. “Airs Goidon. left Patea on May 30, I saw Gordon at Patea on June 2 in the Street. He told me it was no good Carrying on[ as- we were. He said that Mrs 'Gordon could have her liberty as far as he was concerned. I told Gordon; to please himself. I sent a ideogram to Mrs Gordon on Friday, June 2"-advising her of my arrival at W;mganui on Saturday, June 3. I intended to see the football match at Wanganui that--afternoon. That was my main reason -for coming. I did not know whether I was - staying in Wanganui over the- week-end or not.” --.Witness' - said that he and Gordon met on-the Patea; station on the SaturThey wore both going to* Wanganui. Gordon said he was going to> the football match, too. “He made referenda- It© fhiiia witfie,” and (witness, “file said he was- finished and was going to let her free.”

MEETING O'N STATION

Describing his arrival in Wanganui. witness said that the two of them met Mrs. Gordon on the platform. The three then went to the commercaal room of the Metropolitan Hotel. They had drinks there. Nobody else was present. Gordon spoke again of the separation and he appeared to be agreeable. Mbs Gordon had nothing to say. He left the room for more drinks and wMle he was away'Mrs Gordon told witness that Joe, her husband, had been to see her and bad requested her to give him her wedding ring. She said she gave it to him. “When Gordoh returned with the drinks he said that Peters, the licensee, wanted to see .me,” Thompson continued. “I at once left the room. Both Mr and Mrs Gordon were sitting down and were very friendly.” ■ Witness detailed how he had met Mi’ Peters and had "tv drink with him at the bail slide. Afterwards witness went back to the commercial room. 'When he pushed upon the -door, which was ajar, he saw Gordon and his wife on the floor. She was nearest the door and was still. Gordon was gasping. Witness added that he did not OWn a blade razor. He did not know whether he closed the commercial room door when he went out. He had no idea that a tragedy was imminent. There was no truth in the rumour that he.,was going to Australia with Mrs Gordon, .Mr Adams (father of Nellie Gordon) ; I make a, flat denial of there being any agreement to Separate. Did Iff .(Gordon) ever say to you that he agreed to separation? Witness: Acs, on two occasions. „ The coroner; It seems very strange, Mr Thompson, that when you were quite dose to the commercial room you did not hear the sounds of a struggle. -..Witness: I must have been IS to 20 feet away. f ..Detective Walsh: The bar slide referred to is IS feet from the commercial.room door. Did you hear anything of a struggle?—No.

EVIDENCE QF LICENSEE, Alfred Peters, licensee of the Metropolitan Hotel, Wanganui, said that on June 3 the potter told him that a man iji the commercial room wanted to see him. Just then a man whom witness HOW.: knew was the deceased Gordon came out of the commercial room. “I asked this man who it was Wanted to see me,” said witness. “He fold that it was his friend.'He would send him out. This man took three drinks into the commercial room. Immediately after he went in the witness Thompson came out and spoke to me. 1 knew .this man slightly at Auckland sortie years ago. We had a drink together and some conversation. We were together for fire or seven minutes. I excused myself and Thompson walked towards the commercial foom door to rejoin liis friends. I saw him walk to the door. Thompson opened it and cried out to me—‘Come and see,’ or words to that effect.” Witness Went to the door and found the bodies as previously described. Witness 'had not heard any noise whatever. The bar slide, where witness and Thompson had had a drink, was IS feet from" the commercial room door. WRITING DTD NOT COMPARE.

Charlottes Marion H.ovind, sister of the • female deceased, identified the notebook produced as belonging to her sister’s husband. “I have often seen it in Ibis possession,” said witness. “I Jitfi not well- enough acquainted with the male deceased’s handwriting to definitely identify it. My sister’s handwriting resembled that ‘of her husband. In my opinion she did not write any of the entries that have been shown to me to-day.” Detective John Walsh, gave evidence as to what he .found when he went to the Metropolitan Hotel, commercial room in response to a summons. Witness found a small notebook in the trousers pocket of the deceased Gordon. On the back of a photo of the female deceased in this book was written, “J. N. Gordon.—Forgive us both father. The girl I love. (Signed) N. 'Gordon.” The writing appeared to be recent. The following entries appeared in the book and appeared to have been written recently :—. . Monday, the d’ay that she was found out. by me—joe. Mrs —. Fair liair, young blue costume, yellow tarn and scarf. c Him —Tall, clean shaven, broken teeth, grey coat, and light grey trousers ; slightly grey hair, swish-back, no hat. joe. and Nell. Good-bye. Bury uis both together. Joe. w. Hear Farther.—33o not blame Joe. He’s not to blame; it’s me, and I’m sick of it, so he said he would kill us both. So I put my arm. around him and .said I still love him, and he still loved me, so We have both decided to finish. It’s the best way out, >so goodbye to yon and everybody, and bury us together. I am sorry, Nell. With my love to Joe. Wo both love each other whatever happens, so w© decided to go together; forgive us both, and place.ns together-. Joe, and signed by your danghteF’s handwriting. Nell. ; Pear Rocky: She .says she was led, hilt yon’t sav. But bury u.s together. I could not stand it. I said to Noll I would cat her throat, and she said it would be the best, so we both went together. Joe and Nell. At this stage a. new rage is begun. . I had nothing and Nell was led; she still loves me and I still love her. I’ll never forget your daughter, Charlie. Let mother know and forget us both,

but bury ns together a is we died. Joe and Nell. Forgive us both, everybody, and may we rest together. detective's opinions ‘ ‘The writing commencing with ‘Dear father,” and signed ‘Nell,’ .purports to have been written by the female deceased, and the balance' purports to be written by the male,”, said Detective Walsh. “I have 'had the opportunity of comparing the handwriting of both the deceased with these entries and I am of opinion that all the entries in this notebook were written by the male deceased. The writing purportdon is written in larger hand. That is the only difference in the handwriting. All the entries are in indelible pencil, and an indelible lead pencil was found on the deceased. Searching enquiries have been made by the police into this tragedy and I am satisfied from my enquiries that Gordon out his wife’s throat with a razor and then his j olvh.” ’ !

Recalled, Mrs Spooner that Gordon had appeared quite content and resigned to the position so far as his wife was concerned. Witness did not know Thompson, except by sight. Delivering his verdict, the coroner referred to the very sad nature of the tragedy, which had apparently resulted from domestic unhappiness. “There is a question in point,” he said, “as to whether Gordon was reconciled to separation foom his wife. It appears from the evidence of Mrs Spooner that he was. But for her corroboration on that point I would not have, placed much ,reliance on the evidence of Thompson. It is evident, though, and the tragedy iq proof of it, that he was net reconciled. I must return a formal verdict that the deceased, Nellie Gordon. met her death on June 3, a® the result of wounds in the throat, inflicted by her husband, Joseph Nathaniel Gordon.

“The Question .(has ibeen raised as to I whether Mrs Gordon was a consenting • party,” the coroner proceeded. “There' is no evidence to show that she was. t hare compared the handwriting; and 1 mi satisfied that it is the handwriting of one person.” Mr Dixon thereupon returned a verdict that the deceased, Joseph Nathaniel Gordon, met his death on June! 3 as the result of wounds in his throat self-inflicted.