THE INQUESTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2662, 22 March 1905, Page 30

THE INQUESTS.

WELLINGTON, March 16. ( An inquiry was commenced to-day into s the circumstances connected with the death * of John Roussell and Mary Hughes, whose * dead bodies were found* at No. 6 Rintoul * street yesterday morning. The circum- c stances of the- case were that Mrs Pugh, the c woman Hughes, and the latter's two sons I lived in the same house as Roussell. The r "latter, who carried on business as a saddler, J r was in financial difficulties, and had been t advised of pending divorce proceedings in which he and Mrs Hughes were to be * joined as parties. The inquest on the man g was taken first. The evidence show-ed that ' c "deceased was found in his workshop with P his brains blown out, in such a position as ** to make suicide the only possible conelu- [ sion. He was in good health, and had | h given no indication of any intention to j P put an end to his life. A verdict of tl " Suicide while temporarily insane " was I h returned. ~ j 1 At tTie inquest on the woman Hughes, v, Mrs Pugh (her mother) gave evidence that h >he had heard her daughter sa}' she would £ take her life. That was at times when she ' o: mffered from headache. Dr Perkins stated ai phat the woman's condition when found in fr Roussell's bedroom suggested death by b poisoning, but he had been unable to find ' trace of any poison or sign of congestion O or hemorrhage. There was blood on the g< Eheet_ of the bed, and bloody froth on the d inoutfi. The woman's body was colder than p Roussell s. This suggested that she died b 4^ 1 si Hughes^ husband of the ds-

ceased, said he had lived happily with his wife until they made RousseLTs acquaintance. His wife left him early in January without warning. He was taking proceeding 0 for divorce Some years asro feho was very ill, and had said she would be glad to die. Witness had not seen his wife from, the day she left him with her n other and children to go and li\c at Rousscll's. At this stage the inquest was adjourned until Mbnday, when the result of the analyst's examination of the woman's stomach will be available.