THE SUMNER TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18453, 14 January 1922, Page 13

THE SUMNER TRAGEDY

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ASPHYXIATED. A CALLOUS HUSBAND. (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. An inquest was opened to-day on the bodies of Janet Scott and her daughter Gladys Nelson, who wore found asphyxiated in a house at Sumner on Sunday last. Tho owner of the house stated that he let it furnished to Scott, who represented that he was a lieutenant-colonel employed in the secret service, and a member of a prominent club in the city. His wife said he was the most decorated man in New Zealand. Witness had not received any rent from Scott. The medical evidence was that death was duo to tho inhalation of carbon monoxide. Constable Wilkins gave evidence that the bodies were partially dressed, and were lying on the bod. A rubber tube from the gas bracket came within 18 inches of the mother. There was no appearance of a struggle. He found a certificate showing the marriage of deceased to Edward Theodore Scott at Wellington on November 11 last. The certificate showed that Mrs Scott’s former husband died in 1914. ' Charles Thompson, taxi driver, said that Scott had- borrowed money from him on false representations. Scott also told witness that ho won £SOOO. at “TaU& r on Wednesday, January 4. Mrs Scott called him up on telephone, and later they had a conversation. She asked witness if he had seen her husband. She said she had "had a. “tiff” with him on Monday night over money matters, and she had not seen him since. When witness mentioned t'jo win in “Tatts” she said that that "'is ‘ news to. her. He had got £3OO out o/ her. Sub-Inspector Simpson: How do,you know that? Witness: She told me herself, and said she had got money from her father. She also said she had cabled h pmo for more money, and that, she had applied at the registry office for work. T]hat was the only occasion on which witnojs spoke to her. Detective-Sergeant Qi’jo.rtormain said he had. interviewed Scott, who was alleged lo have obtained money j,y fraud in Wellington. When que'/)oned, Scott said be was not Lieutenant Lionel Scott, and that be was not in the defence Department. He said ho had I jr;on in the navy, and had worked up, to lieutenant-commander, but had been, ’dismissed for drunkenness, but later lie denied this. He said that while work; ag as a labourer on* Glendhu station, Wr,£ rara p aj }, e nie t the woman who was then , Lis wife. She was then housekeeper /(. the station. He said . his wife handed .-him £361, and ho had gone through it- He admitted that his correct name was William Theodore Thompson, and that j lO Aad been convicted of theft in Dunedin in 1920. Witness next saw Mrs Scott, v vtio seemed a refined woman, and told Her in her husband’s presence what Scott Had ( admitted. She took this news in a remarkably_ calm manner, but she seemed to have received aor eat shock. Witness considered the advisability of arresting Scott as a rogue and vagabond, but decided to let him go and report the matter. Ho was quite satisfied that Mrs Scott really believed her husband was Lieutenant-colonel Sbott, and that he was an officer in the Defence Department. The next time witness, saw her she said she did sot like appealing to her people, and she would go to the labour registry to seek a position. She subsequently informed him she had declined a position as lady help, and that , she would cable to her - father. She appeared to be depressed. Her husband had not yet appeared. Witness lent her sufficient money to cable and to maintain .herself until an answer could be got. She said she was the widow of a banker who died in Canada about six years ago. Witness left her about 3.50 p.m. That was the last he saw of her alive, and ho concluded that she had rejoined Scott and. gone away with him. Last Monday witness received the two following cablegrams from the manager of tho Bank of New Zealand in reply to a cablegram sent by Mrs Scott: —‘‘Janet Scott, Bank of New Zealand. Christchurch—cannot send; Ted is an impostor; give him up; writing care Wellington Post Office,— Dad.” “Manager, Bank of New’ Zealand, Christchurch, —Hand cable message to Janet Scott personally.—Foster.” Witness concluded by saying that Scott, spent his time in hotel bars shouting for all and sundry with his wife’s money. Hie coroner’s verdict was Ihat the two deceased—Janet Scott and her daughter—died on Wednesday night, January 4, of carbon monoxide gas poisoning, administered by Janet Scott, who had been deserted by her husband. E. T. Scott, alias William Theodore Thompson, after obtaining from, her such money as she possessed. The police arc continuing to institute inquiries as to the whereabouts of Scott, who cFiseippeared from Christchurch on January 2.