TRAGEDY IN WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 25

TRAGEDY IN WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, December 8.

This morning tho bodies of Emily Thomas, aged 35 years, and Gilbert Marshall, aged about 40 years, were found dead on the floor of a bedroom in a house in Cambridge terrace, which had been the residence of the woman. Sordid circumstances surround the tragedy, about which there is more or less an air of mystery. Tho woman, who kept a snjall shop, was last seen alive at 1C.30 last night, when some visitors left her. Everything then appeared to bo normal. This morning, at 8 o'clock, a man named M'Donald went to tho house, as was his daily custom, to do some cleaning. He knocked, but could obtain no response, and on going round to the rear of tho premises he got through an open window. All was quiet within. On opening the door of the woman's bedroom ho saw her lying on the floor dead. Marshall, who posed as her husband, was lying on tho floor besido her. Both bodies were unclothed. The police were informed, and investigation proved that there were indications of foul play. It was evident that a struggle had taken place, as the room was. in considerable disorder, and a small table was broken. Tho woman's body bore marks of violence, and the assumption is that she was strangled by the man, who then took noison. A glass, which had contained some offensive smelling liquid, was found beside his body, and his appearance was consistent with that or a man who had died in euch a manner. The woman was one of the unfortunate class. She was some months ago convicted of keeping what was termed a " one-woman brothel," but this conv : ction was subsequently quashed by the Chief Justice. Marshall, who was an Australian, was a bier and powerful man. over 6ft in height, and between 15st and 16st in weight. December 11. An inquoM was opened to-day in connection witli the Cambridge terrace tragedy. A verdict vas returner! that Emily Thomas was strangled by Gilbert Marshall. The evidence pointed to Marshall having committ'd suicide by taking ehlorodyne after murdering the woman. The coroner decided to defer the entering up of a verdict respecting Hie man until the analyst has reported on the contents of his stomach.