THE MARTON TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1802, 19 December 1912, Page 6

THE MARTON TRAGEDY.

INQUEST DETAILS,

STRANGE INFATUATION

Some strange l'acts wore elicited at the inquest on Tuesday regarding the shooting affair at Marton. Lily Urquhart, wife of the male deceased, who lived at Wellington, deposed that she knew the deceased, Miss Gordon. She had always been on the best of terms with her husband until the deceased came into their lives. The two deceased had been keeping company for about twelve months unknown to witness. When she found it out she accused her husband, and lie promised not to have anything more to do with her. Witness saw Miss Gordon about the matter, but she said ' she would have him in spite of witness." Miss Gordon knew before Mr Urquhart left Marton that he was a married man, and she followed him to Wellington. Her husband being away from home four days, witness took steps to have him arrested for desertion, but as she could not prove her case the proceedings had to be dropped. She then asked for an allowance on separation. At first he consented and then ho refused Her husband continued to live with her until Monday morning. She was left, with two little children, the eldest of whom was a girl six years of age, and the younger a boy of tour. Deceased left home at a quarter past six in his working clothes. He must have changed his clothes at the station. He made no demonstration before he left, and never even kissed the little children. To Mr Collins: She went to Miss Gordon's lodgings the day after Labour Day, October 29th, and asked her. to discontinue her relations with witness's husband. That was the last time she had seen Miss Gordon. She knew about six months ago that her husband, while working at Dr. Brown's, had passed himself off as a single man. When the trouble first came out about two mouths ago she learned that her husband had promised formal marriage. She did not know that her husband had threatened her, but she knew he was in a bad state of mind. For nights and nights he walked the floor, and on Sunday night he walked the floor all night. j i j To the Coroner: Her husband had first threatened her a couple of months ago. Since then he had frequentlv threatened to do away with her, and said, "I'll make you suffer." Witness said, "You can't make me suffer any more than you have done," to which her husband replied, "Yes, I can, and next week I will give you the shock of your life." SOME LETTERS. Constable Fitzpatrick gave evidence as to the police taking charge of the two bodies. He searched the clothes worn by the deceased Urquhart, and found a very lengthy statement written by the deceased, addressed to: "Dear Lorna, or whoever opens this.'' It contained all the incidents of the meetings between the deceased girl and himself since the first meeting until the last. The statement concluded:

"I cannot live like this much longer, Lorna, and if I go out of I the world I will not be alone, so | once again farewell, little girl, j and may God have mercy upon | us both." | OTHER LETTERS. In the deceased girl's bag witness j found a letter addressed to her by Urquhart. The contents were read and showed that it was an appeal from Urquhart that Miss Gordon might allow him to come to Marton. Why do you treat me so unkhidlv?" he asked in the letter, and continuing said she would not if she only knew how miserable he was. He pleaded tor her love. This letter was scribbled on the back of a wages sheet, but was not dat ml.

| John Conlson Fowler, farmer, stated that when driving up the road in question his horse shied at two objects on the roadside. He found the bodies of the two deceased. The girl was lying on her back with her arm under the man, who was lying with his left arm round the girl, and clutching a revolver in his right hand. There was no movement from the man, but the girl was gasping and moaning. Witness then gave details as to informing the police and the doctor. On the road near the bodies there was a number of footmarks in the dust, in a small circle, and it appeared to witness that there had been a struggle, as the girl's leg encroached on the road.