DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21514, 10 June 1933, Page 11

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

VERDICT AT INQUEST

ACTION OF HUSBAND

COMMENT BY CORONER

[by telegraph—mEss association] . WANGANUI, Friday

"lliere is no evidence to show that Mrs. Gordon was a consenting party," said the coroner, Mr. S. M. Dixon, in delivering his verdict at. Wanganui today in respect of tbe deaths of Nellie Gordon and her husband, Joseph Nathaniel Gordon, which occurred at the Metropolitan Hotel just after one o'clock on tho afternoon of June 3. He found that Mrs. Gordon met her death as a result of wounds in her throat inflicted by her husband and that the man died from wounds in his throat self-inflicted. A notebook was produced in which appeared passages written in indelible pencil purporting to have been sinned by both the deceased as having auroei to die together. The evidence went to show, however, that the writing was that of tho husband. Detective J. Walsh, who appeared for the police, was definitely of the opinion, that the writing was that of Gordon and none of it was that of his wife. Tho coroner said ho was satisfied that the writing was all that of one person. Evidence was given to the effect that the woman had left her husband. She came to Wanganui on May 30 to stay with a married woman who had previously resided in Patea and with whom she had been very friendly. Mrs. Gordon had made it clear to her friend that she was leaving her husband for another man, who was to take her to Australia. Her husband visited her at Wanganui and, according to the witness, with whom Mrs. Gordon was staying, he had become reconciled to a separation. It was shown that on June 3 the husband and tho other man concerned both came to Wanganui with the intention of goinc to the WanganuiTaranaki Rugby match. They met on the Patea station, travelled in the same carriage and were met by Mrs. Gordon at Wanganui. The three went to the commercial room of the Metropolitan Hotel, where they had drinks. Gordon, after getting drinks from the bar, told the other man that the licensee wanted to see him. The man went out, leaving Gordon and his wife togethor. When he went back five or seven minutes later he found both Gordon and his wife on the floor. In reply to the father of Mrs. Gordon a witness said that on two occasions the husband had expressed himself as reconciled to his wife leaving him.