DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 104, 13 April 1933, Page 5

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

IN PALMERSTON NORTH SUSPECTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. GIRL MEETS WITH SUDDEN DEATH. By Telegraph—Free* Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, April 12. The victims of the shocking double tragedy at the San Toy Tea Rooms last night are Helen (Nella) Margaret Motley, aged 24, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. G. Motley, proprietors of the tea rooms, and Arthur Holey, aged 39, formerly of Australia and latterly of Palmertson North. According to a statement made by the girl’s father, the deceased and Holey had been engaged since Christmas. The wedding was fixed for Easter Monday. Last week Holey said: “I’ll be straight. I cannot get married, My wife and children are not dead. It had been understood by the Motley family that Holey was a widower, as he had said that his wife was buried at Goulburn, Australia. Holey also said that he had hoped to get a divorce. The engagement was immediately cancelled, the father ordering Soley to leave the premises. Before doing so, Holey allegedly said: “I will fix you. I will see you again.” Nothing more was seen of Koley until last evening. Miss Motley and her married sister had dressed for a dance, and were coming into the kitchen. They heard Koley at the back door call: “Peggy, come here a minute,” he having known Nella Motley by this name. She went out and immediately afterwards a noise was heard on the door. Investigation disclosed that Miss Motley and Holey were lying on the ground with fearful throat wounds. The former did not speak, being beyond aid. Soley also could not speak, and in a dying condition was removed to hospital by the free ambulance, where he succumbed shortly after admission. The family are horrified by the ghastly tragedy which has overtaken their daughter, as the barest interval elapsed between responding to Soley’s call and the noise on the door. The family came from Dannevirke two years ago.