MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19905, 27 September 1926, Page 9

MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY

MAN AND WIFE DIE TOGETHER. BODIES IN BLAZING MOTOR CAR. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, September 24. A labourer, while walking in an unfrequented Bedfordshire lane, caihe upon a man and a woman, with their clothes in flames, seated in a blazing motor car in a ditch. The occupants were Lindsay Marshall. aged fortly-five, a prominent market gardener, and his wife Eva, one of the leaders in Bedfordshire society. Both were dead. A revolver, with one chamber discharged, was found on the road some distance back. The car and the bodies were totally incinerated. —Sydney Sun Cable. CAR BLAZES FIERCELY. LONDON, September 26. (Received Sept. 26, at 0.30 a.m.) The deaths were the subject of a daylong inquest, which was then adjourned. The evidence showed that the car was found on the side of the road against a telegraph post, but neither the post nor the radiator were damaged, showing that no collision had occurred. The car burned furiously. One eye-witness stated that if it had been saturated with petrol Ihe fire could not have been more intense. Finally the discovery of a revolver nearby led to the question whether one or both deaths was accidental or otherwise. Dr Stewart said he had never seen a case of burning whore the cremation was more complete. Further evidence showed that the couple, who were in good circumstances, seemed to be in excellent spirits and on the friendliest terms when they called at a friend's house during the drive. A cyclist who saw the car in flames declared that it was impossible to do anything but stand and watch. There were no signs of any attempt being made to quit the car. The petrol tank was intact. A constable said he found a petrol tin inside the car, the screw of which was among the ashes. The question of the revolver had not been reached up to the time of the adjournment.—A. and N.Z. Cable.