INFIDELITY LEADS TO DOUBLE SUICIDE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6536, 18 February 1928, Page 9

INFIDELITY LEADS TO DOUBLE SUICIDE

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night An inquest was held to-day into the death of the second victim of the Selwyn tragedy, Florence Annie Washbourne, wife of William Henry Washboume ,of Selwyn, who committed suicide on Monday night after attempting to shoot his wife. Evidence was given that Mrs Washbourne was 26 years of age ,with four children, the eldest seven years and the youngest seven months. Until a fortnight ogo W. H. Washbourne and his wife had lived apart under an agreement, but about two weeks ago she returned homo, and her husband accepted her. It was stated the husband had been worried because of his wife’s relations with another man in the district. After Washbourne’s body was found on Tuesday morning Mrs Washbourne knelt beside it weeping and repeating - , “Oh, Daddy, why did you miss mo.” She was interviewed by a policeman, to whom she admitted she had been familiar with another man, and that this was the cause of the trouble with her husband. She did not, however, give ny indication of her intention to commit suicide. In the afternoon after the husband’s suicldo Mrs Washbourne disappeared. It was clear from the evidence that the woman could not have got into the dam by accident. The verdict returned was suicide