TRAGIC FAMILY CURSE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6946, 27 June 1929, Page 3

TRAGIC FAMILY CURSE

CRIME IN A COTTAGE DEVOTED FATHER’S TERROR A devoted father’s terror lest his family should be smitten with consumption was described at an inquest in Loudon recently on the four persons found shot dead in a cottage at. Marden, near Maidstone. The dead persons were:— Samuel William Daw, aged 53; his wife jßosina, aged 49; Nellie, his daughter, aged IS; and Samuel William, his son, aged 17. Mr. Daw’s sister, Miss Martha Fanny Daw. said that her brother was formerly sub-postmaster at Heathlicld Tower, a post which lie resigned about three, years ago. “He found the work too much for him,” she said. “During the whole period of 30 years’ service lie never had one day’s holiday. “My brother,” Miss Daw said, “was absolutely devoted to his children in word ami deed far beyond (he majority of earthly fathers. ll is whole life was spent ia"trying his utmost, for them.” Witness said that, when Nellie became ill her father “pranced about the room in the most terrible agony of mind. He wondered what the verdict would be, knowing full well that ten or more of his cousins had died in consumption. His sister died in consumption; his mother then died, and his father was operated on. “Cursed by Consumption”

“The doctors, unfortunately, made a. tremendous mistake.” Miss Daw continued, ‘‘and operated wrongly, ami his father died owing to that mistake, a most terrible death, which Mr. Daw' had to witness.. All this tremendous suffering he had had round him and his children. “Wo are cursed by consumption,” said Miss Daw in broken tones, “ft was the curse of the family, and lie dreaded it. I believe he was trusting and hoping and praying that the child’s trouble, was only weakness. He had feared all the, time since leaving (ho post office that this consumption would break out; in his own family.” Miss Daw said that there had also been insanity in the family. Her brother had no difficulties with regard to money matters. The coroner: He was not troubled with religious mania/ Miss Daw: Not that I know' of. He was a man of very keen intellect when once he opened out his mind. No Stock and no Money

Dr. W. .T. Adams said that Nellie Daw' was suffering from extensive tubeiculosis. When he last saw her on the Friday previous to the tragedy slio was very weak, and was not likely to have lived for more than a week or ten days. “Her father,” lie said, “was vor.v excited and agitated, but talked quite rationally. He asked me how long she would last.” Supcrinlendenl. While said lie found (id. in Mr. Daw’s possession and 7sd. on Mrs. Daw. There was no stock iu the shop and no other money. There were also two post office savings bank books, which showed that.\all moneys had been drawn, and a bank pass book which showed nothing. There was an untouched sum of £3 2s fid rent to the dead daughter by an aunt, and three sovereigns and three half-sovereigns in gold. The jury returned a verdict that, the wife, daughter and son were murdered by Mr. Daw, who took his own lifo while of unsound mind.