THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 5

THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT WELLINGTON.

OPENING OF THE INQUIRY. [by TKLr.c;n.vrir. —rmcss ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington*, Thursday. An* inquiry was commenced to-day into the circumstances connected with the death of John Roursell and Mary Hughes, whose dead bodies were found at No. 6, Rintoulstreet, yesterday morning. The circumstances of the ciiso were that Mrs. Pugh, the woman Hughes, and the letter's two sens lived in the same house as Roussell. The latter, who carried on business as a saddler, was in financial difficulties, and had been advised of pending divorce proceedings, in which he and Mrs. Hughes were to be joined as parties. Tho inquest on the man was taken first. Tho evidence showed that deceased was found in his workshop with his brains blown out in such a position as to make suicide tho only possible conclusion. Ho was in good health, and had given no indication of an intention to put an end to his life. A verdict of suicido while temporarily insano was returned. At tho inquest on tho woman, Mrs. Pugh, her mother, gave evidence that she had heard her daughter say eh© would take her life. That was at times when she suffered from headache. Dr. Perkins stated that the woman's condition when found in Rousell's bedroom suggested death by poisoning, but he had been unable to find a trace of any poison or sign of congestion or hemorrhage. The woman's body was colder than Roussell's. This suggested that she died first. William Hughes, husband of deceased, said he had lived happily with his wife until they made Roussell's acquaintance. His wife left him early in January without warning. lie was taking proceedings for divorce. Some years ago she was very ill, and had said' she would be glad to- die. Witness had not seen his wife from the day she left him with her mother and children to go and live at Roussell's. At this stage tho inquest was adjourned until Monday, when the result of the analyst's examination of the woman's stomach will bo available.