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Otago Witness, Issue 2822, 15 April 1908, Page 53

far as can be learned his manner and conduct have never betrayed signs of mental peculiarity. It is known that he has ju6t had an attack of influenza, followed by British cholera, and lately he has not been in a good state of health. THE INQUEST. The inquest was commenced at the house of the tragedy at 4 o'clock this afternoon before Mr W. A. Stout, J.P., and a jury, of whom Mr E. Webber was foreman. Sergeant Mathieson, who conducted the inquiry for the police, said that the only evidence he proposed to call at that stage yas that of Mr M'Lean, who would identify the bodies. He would then ask for an adjournment to see whether Mrs Baxter ■would be able to give any evidence. - Archibald M'Lean, city missionary in In•vercargill, said : " I reside next door, on the right of the house occupied by the deceased. I was intimately acquainted with him and his family. I heard no noise or disturbance last night. My bedroom faces this house, and until 10.45 last night I was in> a room precisely opposite the window of Mrs Baxter's bedroom. I noticed nothing unusual in Mr Baxter's manner lately. J I know he has been ill of late, and heard j that he had British cholera.' I believe Mr i Baxter was down at the Bluff one day during his illness and fell off a. rock. I { made the discovery between 10.45 and 11 • this morning. I came to the front window, raised the blind, and saw the bodies of Basil and Roy. Prior to that I had noticed that there was no life or movement about the place: I saw that the blinds were down when I went outside in the morning. Hearing someone calling out, I went to the widow as stated. I ran straight across to the South InveroargiU Police Station and telephoned for the police, who arrived in 10 minutes, followed immediately by Dr Ewart and the ambulance. We made a hurried examination of the two bodies in the front room, and found life extinct. In the room immediately behind it Roy ! was dead in the bed, and Phyllis was on the floor, alive, but unconscious. She was lying on one elbow and one hand, with the other hand stretched out in front of her. ,We next entered Mrs Baxter's bedroom. | As we went in she raised herself, turned towards the door, and said, ' What is the matter?' She sank back unconscious. The baby was in a cot alongside, also unconscious. The door into the scullery through which the bathroom was reached was locked. We went outside, and seeing a body in the bath we burst open the door and found Mr Baxter lying in the bath, ■which was full of water. His legs from the knees -were sticking over the end of the bath, as though deceased had been sitting on the end of the bath and had fallen backwards. Mr Baxter was dead, and ■<«as holding the gun (produced) in one hand, the muzzle pointing towards his feet. The gun contained a discharged cartridge in the breech. The stove scraper (produced) was also found. Everything was done by the police with the utmost despatch, and the injured ones were in the ambulance ■within 30 minutes after my terrible discovery." The inquest was then adjourned till next Tuesday at 7 p.m., in the courthouse, but if Mrs Baxter is not then in a condition to give evidence the inquest will be further adjourned. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. (From Oub, Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, April 8. Mr Baxter had recently had an attack «f influenza, and going 1 to the Bluff to j recuperate, fell and injured his head, and j it had been noticed by some of his acquaintances that he has been somewhat peculiar in his behavioxir since. That the awful act was premeditated seems to be evidenced by the fact that the gun referred to was bought by Mr Baxter at a local store only a few days ago. Mental derangement seems the only explanation of the tragic occurrence. Mr Baxter was doing a fair business, and was investing in suburban property. He is not known to have any money troubles. He was a most affectionate father, and t!ie family life was f the happiest. The girl Phyllis was operated on at' the Invercargill Hospital this morning to remove broken bone from the brain, but her case is regarded as quite hopeless. Mrs Baxter and the baby, ' though terribly gashed, are expected to , recover. INVERCARGTLL. April 9. There is nothing new to report in regard to the Crinan street tragedy. Inquiry at the hospital late to-ri^ht elicited the information that the wounded persons are in the same condition as yes. terday. DEATH OF MRS BAXTER. ._, _ INVEROARGILL. April 10. Mrs Baxter died this morning. The daughter Phyllis remains in an unconscious condition, and the infant is becoming worse.