East Coast Tragedy

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 273, 21 November 1934, Page 4

East Coast Tragedy

VERDICT AT INQUEST Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Nov. 19. The inquest into tho tragedy at Tokomaru Bay, in which, the victims were Mrs Ileni Karauria and her husband, Whare (BarJow) Karauria, both aged about 25 years, opened this morning. Ivarauria’s brother, Alexander, stated I hat the deceased couple had lived fairly amicably and it was only since the death of his father that Barlow Karauritt had been acting strangely. Witness gave details of tho tragedy as reported on (Saturday, stating (hat he found Barlow Karauria almost dead with a knifo in his throat and Mrs Karauria lying prono iu a pool of blood. Dr N. K. McKay stated that he found the bodios oe tho floor of a large room. On Mrs Karauria's body were livo suporiicial wounds and two severe neck wounds sufficient to cause death. On Karauria ; s body were two wounds on. tho neck.

Lena Karauria, aged 20, Barlow Karauria's sister, stated that the cotiplo did not quarrel, but Karauria was inclined to “go very queer" and just sit arouud. On (Saturday morning Mrs Karauria called her from tho kitchen. (She wus struggling with her husband, who had a knifo iu his hand, which witness took from him. Later she heard a noise and found Karauria stabbing his wife. Witness grabbed the children and took them to the garden, and then returned for the other children. She found the wife dead and the husband on tho flour alongside. Paul Hauiki deposed as to Karauria's moods, stating that on Friday last ho started ordering his wifo about. After hearing police evidence concerning Karauria's mental state, the jury returned, a verdict that Ileni Karauria met her death at tho hands ui hor husband and that the latter committed suicide while of unsound mind.

Following the tragedy, Alexander Karauria telephoned to tho Tokomaru Bay police. Sergeant Sparks, accompanied by Dr. Mac Kay, of Te Puia Springs, arrived on the sceno shortly after, but nothing could be done. Whare Karauria was also known as Barlow Karauria. Ho had an. impediment iu his speech and often believed he was being ridiculed because of this inflection. His father died six months ago, and this is believed to have preyed on his mind to such an extent that Ms condition necessitated medical attention. He subsequently recovered, but it is stated that he was again despondent this week. Ho was a waterside worker at Tokomaru Bay, but had had very little work to do. His wife was a nativo of the Hauraki district.