THE KAITANGATA TRAGEDY,

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 51

THE KAITANGATA TRAGEDY,

THE INQUEST CONCLUDED. The inquest on the body of Edward Tdwarda, ' ■who committed suicide at Kaitacgata aftet 1 attempt-ing to murder his wife o-\ November 3, was resumed before Mr F. T. Poole, coroner, on Monday morning. The only remaining witness was Mrs Ed" wards, who had - recovered sufficiently to be able to give evidence. Her statement of what she knew of the affair was as follows: — My husband came home at 10 o'clock^on the night of November 2. He appeared to be 'right enough when he came in. I was in bed reading, and he said: "Ain't yoii going to get' up and make a bit of supper?" He then washed himself,, and &at down to have his supper.. When I spread a piece for -him he frightened me; he picked it up and threw it at the window, and appeared to be in a hurry to go to bed. He went to bed, but would not lie on the outside, as he said some one was going to shoot hinx through, the window. He always used to sleep on the outside of the bed. After he was in bed he would not go to sleep, <and asked me several times to put down the paper I was reading-.* 1 lay reading papers until about 3 a.m., and' then dropped off to sleep. When I awoke T r found my throat cut. I remember dropping the baby out of bed, and I fell out on top o! it. The baby started to cry, and I picked it up and- lay down with it across the bottom of the bed. The child then seemed to cry harder. I" seemed to get more strength, and I took the-" baby up and carried her out ami brought the. other children out with me. I think they were; awake, but frightened. I took them' to' Mts ! Scurr's. Before -I left our house I noticed myj husband on the bed with his legs drawn up, and with his head hanging down on the pillow. T knocked at Mr Scurr's 'door, and Mi> Scurr came. He went back into the house, and Missu ■Scurr came. I was on my way back to my own house and Mrs Scurr tried to pull me inside, with her, but I wanted her to come with me." I then went into Mrs Scurr's, and sat down in the arm chair. There we're no other witnesses, and the jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor while of linsound mind. A rider was added stating that in the opinion of the jury great credit was due to Mrs Edwards for the way she protected her children.