Woman Dead, Mas Injured In Blazing Collage

Northern Advocate, 19 November 1941, Page 6

Woman Dead, Mas Injured In Blazing Collage

[Per Press Association—Copyright.] GORE, This Day

A distressing tragedy, involving the death of a young married woman in mysterious circumstances and injuries to her husband, occurred at Moa Flat, near Iferiot, in the early hours of this morning. The victim of the tragedy was: Mrs. Mary Flaxman, aged 25, a married woman with one child aged 15 months. The woman’s husband. Charles Henry Flaxman, farm labourer, was admitted to the Tapanui Hospital. He is under police protection. Details of the tragedy are meagre. Mr. and Mrs. Flaxman were living in a cottage on the property of Mr. A. J. Hodgkin, of Moa Flat, and information received indicates that about 1.30 o’clock this morning neighbours were roused by fire in the building. Husband, Child Saved Steps were immediately taken to j rescue the three people from the burning building, but it is understood that Mrs. Flaxman was dead when rescued from the cottage. Flaxman and the baby girl were brought to safety, and steps were taken to convey Flaxman to the Tapanui hospital. Dr. R. G. Stokes, of Gore, was summoned and gave medical attention to the injured man. It is understood his injuries are not serious and that the child is not injured in any way. The cottage was totally destroyed by fire. Constable W. Coatsworth, of Tapanui, was on the scene soon after the tragedy and it is understood that detectives have been despatched from Dunedin to assist the local police in their investigations. Head Battered? The nature of Mrs. Flaxman’s injuries are not disclosed, but information received suggests that her head had been battered. Flaxman was rescued from the cottage by Mr. G. M. Love, of Moa Flat. Flaxman has been a resident of Moa Flat for about five years. He was married at Christchurch about three years ago, since when he had been working for Mr. Hodgkin. Mrs. Flaxman had lived in the district for some years before her marriage.