BATHROOM TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22741, 29 May 1937, Page 14

BATHROOM TRAGEDY

DEATH OF MOTHER AND BABY 'THE CORONER'S FINDING [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] HASTINGS, Friday An inquest into the deaths of Mrs. Kathleen McLeod, aged 34. and her son, lan Breac Stirling McLeod, whose bodies were found in the bathroom of their residence, was held this morning by the district coroner, Mr. Gr. Ebbett. Lan Stirling McLeod, stock agent, said his wife gave birth to a daughter about two months ago, since when she had suffered from her nerves. On one occasion since the birth of the daughter she had made the remark that she thought she would do away with herself and her son, but witness passed this remark off lightly and had not since heard her pass any similar comment. Dr. Rowland Cashmore said he was summoned by Mr. McLeod, sen., and on arrival at the house he found the bathroom door locked. He forced the window, and found the bath full of water and in it the bodies of Mrs. McLeod and her son. On a table near the bath was an empty bottle. Mrs. McLeod had been suffering from anxiety neurosis, a condition which was accompanied by attacks of mental depression. Witness had suggested she should go away for a holiday and the arrangements were being made. "I am forced to the conclusion that deceased died of poisoning self-admin-istered, but there was no one who saw what actually liapened in the bathroom and I doubt if I can find that the child met its death at her hands," said the coroner. "There is an inference, of course, but I can imagine other ways in which the child might have met its death other than at the hands of the mother. She may have taken him into the bathroom to give him a bath, and no one can really say what actually happened. As far as the mother is concerned my finding is that she died of poisoning self-administered, and in regard to the child I can only find that he met his death through drowning, but the evidence is not sufficient to enable me to say how the drowning occurred."