FATAL INJURIES TO HEAD

Southland Times, Issue 24597, 20 November 1941, Page 4

FATAL INJURIES TO HEAD

I BODY OF WOMAN IN BLAZING COTTAGE. HUSBAND WITH WOUND IN THROAT With severe injuries to the head, the body of a young married woman was dragged from a burning cottage at Moa Flat, near Heriot. in the early hours of yesterday morning. Her - husband is at present an inmate of the Tapanui Hospital with a wound in his throat. The victim of the tragedy was Mrs Mary Flaxman, aged 25, wife of Charles Henry Flaxman, aged 36, a farm labourer. The tragedy occurred in a fourroomed cottage occupied by the couple on Wilden road, four miles past Edievale. Flaxman and his wife were married two and a-half years ago, and there is a baby daughter, aged 15 months, who is uninjured. The couple were employed on the farm of Mr A. J. Hodgkin, of Moa Flat, and their cottage was about 300 yards from Mr Hodgkin’s residence. Shortly before 1.30 yesterday morning a neighbour, Mr J. M. Garden, heard cries for help from the cottage. He discovered Flaxman’s cottage ablaze and saw Flaxman coming out of the cottage carrying his child. Mr Garden entered the building and brought out Mrs Flaxman. Thinking that she had been overcome by smoke, he applied artificial respiration, but then discovered she had severe injuries to the back of her head. FLAXMAN DISAPPEARS Mr Hodgkin was summoned by Flaxman, who told him that his wife was badly burned. Mr Hodgkin went to see what assistance he could give, and Flaxman ran behind a stable near the cottage. He did not reappear. Finding that nothing could be done for Mrs Flaxman, Mr Hodgkin went to look for her husband and found him behind the stable suffering from a wound in his throat. He applied first aid and took him to the Tapanui Hospital, where he was admitted shortly after 3 o’clock. Flaxman was attended by Dr R. G. Stokes, of Gore, and it is understood that his injuries are not serious. Mr Hodgkin had been at a Home Guard parade on Tuesday night and when he returned home about midnight he noticed nothing amiss at the cottage. When the flames were first seen the strong wind which had been blowing during the day had dropped and heavyrain was falling. Mr Hodgkin, assisted by several neighbours, attempted to save the cottage, but it was not possible to control the flames and the building was completely' destroyed. All that remained yesterday was a tangled mass of roofing iron and charred and smouldering wood. POLICE GUARD Flaxman was placed under police guard in the Tapanui Hospital yesterday. It is understood that a statement was not taken from him by the police yesterday, and that no charge was preferred against him. It is not considered likely that he will remain in hospital for more than a few days. Dr E. F. D’Ath, Professor of Pathology at the Otago University Medical School, conducted a post-mortem examination. An inquest into the death of Mrs Flaxman was opened before the District Coroner. Mr J. H. Waite, of Roxburgh, yesterday and after evidence of identification had been given by Mr Hodgkin it was adjourned sine die. The body was removed to Tapanui last night.

WELL LIKED IN DISTRICT According to neighbours, Mr and Mrs Flaxman were well liked in the district and were regarded as an affectionate couple. Flaxman comes from London and formerly lived in Christchurch. He has been a resident of the Moa Flat district for about six years and was married at Christchurch. Mrs Flaxman had lived in the district for some years before her marriage. Mrs Garden is caring for the child. Superintendent P. J. O’Hara, Chief Detective T. E. Holmes and DetectiveSergeant T. Y. Hall, of Dunedin, are among those conducting the police investigations. Senior Detective R. Thompson, of Invercargill, also went to Moa Flat yesterday and two constables from the Invercargill area were sent to the Tapanui Hospital to provide a guard for Flaxman,