Inconsiderate Husband Rebuked At Rotorua Inquest

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 10

Inconsiderate Husband Rebuked At Rotorua Inquest

[Per Press Association. Copyright! ROTORUA, This Day. CTRCNG COMMENT BY THE CORONER, MR W. L. RICHARDS, WAS EXPRESSED AT THE CONCLU SION OF THE INQUEST HELD YESTERDAY INTO THE DEATH OF MRS GLADYS LANE, AGED ABOUT 40, AND HER SON BY A FORMER MARRIAGE, LEWES COTTINGTON, AGED NINE. Mrs Lane was discovered in the early hours of January 5 lying on a bed in a small cottage in Ti Street, Rotorua, with a severe gash in her threat, while beside her was lying the body of a boy with a rope wound tightly round his neck. “I do not think I can complete this inquiry without ( commenting briefly upon the inconsiderate attitude of the husband toward his late wife, because he was fully aware that in the last month or two she was in a very delicate state of health,” said Mr Richards. “When Lane earlier gave evidence of identification he appeared distracted with grief, and I was inclined to sympathise with him, but the subsequent evidence discloses that he was very inconsiderate towards his wife during the critical period.

“In his own evidence he has expressed the opinion that had he shown his wife more consideration at this time she may have been alive today, and he also said something to the effect that he supposed he was too interested in his own affairs.

“Although I do not consider that this sad tragedy Was definitely avoidable, owing to the mental condition of the deceased woman, I would suggest to the husband, however, that. it is far preferable to extend kindly sentiments and thoughts during the lifetime of relations and friends, instead of an overabundance of tears after death, because \this kind of sorrow is frequently of questionable sincerity.”

“Locks Food Away.”

Continuing the evidence yesterday afternoon, Detective White produced another letter written by Mrs Lane to her daughter not later than the previous Tuesday. This letter was as follows:

“Arthur is rotten to me. He never even, gives me a cup of tea. Miss Stock has to see to us. He does not bother, just locks his food 'away, and I drew some money yesterday, so we are O.K. now. God! he gave me such a terrible time, but take me to Daddy Boy, He was such a darling. “You can 'have all my things, dear. Arthur never gives me a kind word, only when he wants try for a new car. He has had all I can give him. Tell Dr. Bertram I am sorry he had done my leg good, but life was too tough after my own life and home.” Lane said that the statements in this letter weire not true. Detective White then produced deceased's bank book, showing that on March 17, 1938, she had a credit of £6OO 4/, but which had now dwindled to £l6. Lane said that he received only a few pounds from his wife while he was in Wellington. He could not say what his wife had spent the money on, unless it was on the car and the radio. He admitted • that on one occasion he had run over the wheel of the boy’s bicycle and taken it home and shown it to his wife, telling her that her son was seriously hurt and in hospital. She jumped to this conclusion, but he admitted that he let her 1 believe it. Too Interested In Own Affairs. Detective White: Do you not think that if you had shown your wife some reasonable sympathy in her periods of despondency and some reasonable consideration, that, she and her son would be alive today? Witness; yes. I was too interested in my own affairs. Mr White: Then you do accept some responsibility for being neglectful?

Witness: Yes, but that had only been lately.

Lane admitted thati it was true that at one time he had wanted to m'arry his wife’s daughter, Sadie, but the daughter ran away from Blenheim and he stayed with the mother at her request. Not In Love With Daughter.

Detective White: Was not the greatest trouble between you and your wife due to the fact that you were still in love with her daughter? Witness: No. That is not true.

Evidence \vas given by Miss Emma Stock, who occupied the front portion of the house, that at times the relationship between Lane and his wife appeared to be unhappy. The verdict returned was that Lewis Cottington died from asphyxia caused by strangulation, the boy’s mother Waving been responsible for his death, and that- Gladys Lane had died from shock following haemorrhage, death resulting from throat injuries self-inflicted during a temporary fit of pueperal insanity, as described in the medical evidence.