THE BALCLUTHA TRAGEDY.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13735, 29 May 1913, Page 4

THE BALCLUTHA TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

[United Pbkss Association.]

Durcedln, May 28. The inquest on the body of Frederick John Littlewood, who died at Balclutha on April 27th, was concluded yesterday.

Dr. Stenhouso stated that ho thought that Mrs. Littlewood's injuries had been caused by a blunt-edged instrument. It was quite feasible that they had been caused by the back edge of a. mattock. The child was suffering from a very large bruise on tho head, and a fracture of the skull, and lie also showed signs of concussion of the brain. Mrs. Littlewood also had. symptoms of concussion of tho brain. It was almost impossible to say whether Littlewood was dead before tho fire reached him.

Ethel Littlewood, widow of the deceased, gaid that on April '26th her husband appeared a bit down-hearted -and depressed. During the night she missed her husband from the bedroom, but he returned when she called out to him. When witness asked him whero ho had been lie did not reply, but caught her by the shoulder, struck her on the head with a wood-chopper, and caught her by tha throat. .She- then lost consciousness. When she' regained consciousness she found the bedroom door closed. On opening tho door she fcuitd tho housd on lire. The child cried when «he was struck, but was quiet after that. Whon-'she. discovered the fire she put tho child out of tho window, and she thought he must have fallen on the footpath. Her husband did not drink! Tho only 'Solution she could give of his mental lapse was that he had b?on troubled through want of sleep. lie had told 'her he- had been unable to sleep.

Tho jury returned a verdict that the evidence pointed to lit of temporary insanity, but thoro was not sufficient to show whether tho deceased cam© by his death from lire, or by a self-inflicted wound.