TRAGEDY AT MARTON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11808, 18 December 1912, Page 1

TRAGEDY AT MARTON.

• (PerPbbss/Association.) ; •-' - ■':"". > t December/17/ At ihe. inquest: Of the victims 'of the . tragedy, : tlie -evidence:'? 6T-.TJrq»hart's foilier''"-showed that .TJrquliarfc and. his wife'liyed happily"till "lie eaine to Jrartoii.WHis wife had; taken' Court proceedings, which- Syero afterwards quashr ed: '".The girl and' he"wirerphotographed together, and this led to'his wife applying for a separation. TJrquhart; .told witness that he had represented himself to his/victim as.a single man. He was aged 28. "j ■ The girl's brothersaid his sister- and TJrquhart "kejrt company till it was discovered the .latter was married, when wit ne'ss'_famil.v instructed a lawyer to write to TJrquhart on .November' 26th forbidding communication-or he would he prosecuted for a libel contained in his letters and'telegrams. Dr Scott deposed tha he found the man shot in two places, through the stomach and the heart, the last bullet passing through the : body "and coming out at the-shoulder-blade. The girl was shot in three places —a flesh wound on the left arm • above the elbow, one through the right side coining out at the left■ side, and -another on the left sideatthe level of the hearts The shots were fired at •the girl at close quarters. From the position/of the bodies "he believed they were sitting .together when ] the -act was committed. ■■.-■„. , --.■--, ■ John Lowrie;. the girl's- brotber-in-law. said that he had known TJrouhartfor 15 months.-and he represented him-: self as« single man. There was some talk"of an-engagement, and the parent gave their-consent, but wished Jt) know more about'" him. before /the marriage, which he wanted at once. About a year ago TJrquhart returned .to Wellington, and. the girl went there as ladyhelp for; a month or two. She returned to 3laiv ton on account of ill-health, but went, hack to Wellington,, and then learnt ITrquhart Hvas married; and she again returned to- Marton. \ TJrquhart tried to commnnicate'byletters and. telegrams with threats- ; " "'' -•■"'.. ' . ."" Lily ITrquhart. wife of deceased, said that she . had ■•always s - been/ on friendly term's with her husband till the girl Gordon came-into their lives. - She accused 'Tier husband of-being-too friendly with the irirl, "and he promised to desist, and she'told Miss Gordon to discontinue |he acquaintance, -which she refused. She issued (v warrant-for her husband's arrest for desertion, but ooiikl not prove it. Thcv bad ; two-children (a boy and a girl). " She -knew her husband repre?ented himself as single.- Last week her husband told her-he would give her the shock of her life. After formal evidence the Coroner commented on the infatuation of the man. and returned :i yerd : ct of murder and >nicide wli'le temporarily insane.