FATHER AND SON DEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 10

FATHER AND SON DEAD.

TRAGEDY AT DEVONPORT,

GAS-POISONING THE CAUSE.

DOMESTIC TROUBLE SEQUEL.

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. A tragic discovery was made by the Devonport police in the early hours of yesterday morning, when a call to a house at 43, Kiwi Road, revealed the bodies of George David Danaford, aged 29, captain's steward, on H.M.S. Philomel, and his son, Dennis Harold Danaford, aged three years, lying in a room which was filled with gas. At an inquest held yesterday afternoon, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, returned a verdict that the father committed suiride by gas-poisoning and that he kept his son, who also died from gas-poisoning, in the room while so doing. Danaford lived apart from his wife, who was .instituting divorce proceedings against him. On January 16, Mrs. Danaford left the house in Kiwi Road and took up her residence with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bolton, in Cautley Street, which is close to Kiwi Road. Their only child, Dennis, was in the custody of the mother and Danaford was in the habit of calling at Cautley Street and taking the child for walks. On Thursday afternoon, Dana--ford called and took the child away with him. The child was not returned and during the evening the mother became anxious. Obtaining no response to repeated knocking at the doors of the house in Kiwi Road, Mr. Bolton informed the Devonport police. Investigations by Police. Sergeant O'Brien and Constable Butler proceeded to the house, arriving shortly before one o'clock. There was a barricade behind the front door and it was necessary to force an entrance. The house reeked with gas, which appeared to be coming from the kitcheri? On opening the door to this room, the policemen found the bodies of the man and child lying on the floor. Danaford's head and shoulders were in: the oven of a gas stove, the gas being turned on. The child, surrounded by-toys,- was lying about three feet away; So strong were the fumes that it was necessary for the i two policemen to grope their way to fresh air before continuing their - investigations.

In one room were found a sheet of paper, containing writing,, and two playing cards. Later two further sheet's of writing were discovered. There was little continuity in the messages, which were of an .incoherent nature. Allegations were made against Mrs. Danaford and on one card, the . three of hearts, appeared the words, " Your death sign, Mrs. Danaford." One message conveyed the words: "Dennis is to have everything that is my property—a half-share in the house and all its contents." On another sheet of paper were the words: " I have asked Denny who he wants to go with and he is' dying with me."

Evidence at the Inquest. i ' At the inquest, Henry Bolton stated that he had known: Danaford for three years and at times he appeared to act in a queer manner. He had previously been separated from his wife on account of his unkind treatment, of her. On Wednesday, January 15, Mrs. 'Bolton visited the house in response to a call by Dennis Danaford and found Mrs. Danaford lying unconscious on the floor. On the following day, Mrs. Danaford and Dennis took up their residence with witness and his wife.

When witness returned from work afc 11 o clock on Thursday evening he found Mrs. Danaford very upset, as her child had not returned. He went to the bouse in Kiwi Road but could obtain do response to continual knocking afc the door. A short time later he returned to the house in company with his mother and Mrs. Bolton, but again could obtain no response. About midnight he knocked at the house again and then proceeded to the police station, obtaining a sergeant and Describing the discovery of the bodies in the kitchen, Constable Butler said that rags and paper were stuffed under both doors leading to .the kitchen. He considered that the child, whose body vras still warm, had been dead for about four hours. Danaford had evidently been dead for about six hours. Witness knew Danaford, whom he considered an erratic type of person. The police had been called to the house in- June, 1929, owing to violeivt conduct by, Danaford. Interpretation of Messages, When the messages wera produced by Sergeant O'Brien, Constable Butler identified the handwriting as that of Danaford. Constable Butler said it was evident- that Danaford had not afc first, intended taking the boy's life but had later changed his mind.

-Mr. K. A. Singer, who Represented Mrs. Danaford, said that after a previous separation Mrs. Danaford had returned owing to repeated requests by her husband. During the preliminaries to th 6 pending divorce proceedings, Danaford had made a statement clearing his wife's character.

The coroner returned thd following verdict:—"That Dennis Harold Danaford died as the result of gas-poisoning. His father, George David Danaford, committed suicide by gas-poisoning and kept the child in the room while so doing. The letters left by the father showed his intention that the child should die." Danaford's Career.

Mr. and Mrs. Danaford had lived for three years in the house in Kiwi Road, which is a neat, one-storeyed bungalow, with a well-kept lawn in front. It was owned by them jointly. Danaford was born in England, being the son of Harold Danaford. He married Mrs. Danaford in Wellington in December, .1925. Danaford joined the Navy in 1919 and came to New Zealand nine yeare ago On H.M.S. Chatham. He was an officers' steward on the H.M.S. Dunediii and H-.M.S. Diomede, later becoming captain s steward on H.M.S. Philomel. He will be given a naval funeral at the Cemetery this afternoon.