Mother and Child Asphyxiated by Gas

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 5

Mother and Child Asphyxiated by Gas

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. A woman and her young daughter who were on holiday were found asphyxiated in the kitchen of the house where they were staying at Ellerslie. The burners of the gas stove had been turned on. Artificial respiration attempts were unsuccessful and they did not regain consciousness. The victims were Mrs. Doris May Walker, aged about 40, of Mot&tau, North Auckland, and Judith Walker, aged 5. Mrs. Walker and her husband (Mr. D. T. Walker) who were teaching at a Native school at Motatau to Auckland with their child last Tuesday to spend the school holidays with Mr. Walker’s father at his homo in Ellerslie. The husband left the house this afternoon and his father went out about an hour later. Mrs. Walker and her daughter were expected to leave afterward to attend a picture theatre. Mr. Walker, senior, returned home about 5 p.m. and noticing a smell of gas at the back of the house he went into the kitchen where he found Mrs. Walker and her daughter lying side by side OD the floor, each with her head on a pillow. He went for assistance and artificial respiration was attempted but unsuccessfully,