DEATH OF FATHER AND SON

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1930, Page 11

DEATH OF FATHER AND SON

ROOM FILLED WITH GAS STRONG EVIDENCE OF DEMENTIA. AUCKLAND FAMILY’S TRAGEDY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Jan. 24. Demented by the thought of his pending divorce, George Davis Danaford, aged 29, a naval rating living at Kiwi Road, Devonport, apparently killed himself last night by gae poisoning apd took his only child, Dennis, aged three years, to death with him. . Stifling gas fumes filled the house at 1 o’clock this morning, when the police forced - their way through the front door, which was strongly barricaded with furniture. In the kitchen Danaford was found with his head in the oven. About three'feet away, surrounded by toys with -which he -had been playing when the gas fumcq overcame him, lay the, child, fA'ce 'downwards. Notes scrawled on the pages of ' a ,school book and stating that he intended to kill himself and take the child with him, were left by Danaford. Messages were also left ori the joker and the three of hearts from a pack of playing cards. Evidence pointe to Danaford’s mind being deranged. During recent months Danaford and his wife had been separated at intervals, and about three weeks ago the wife went to live with a neighbour named Bolton. Last night Danaford called for the child, saying that he would take him to the pictures. When, at 10.45 p.m., Danaford had not returned with l the child, Bolton went to Danaford’s house. Getting no response .to his knocking he called the police, who forced tlieir way into the hqpse. Danaford had died some hours' before the child.. *. Mrs. Danaford had objected .to par-: ties of shipmates being brought to the. house, and Danaford -had made threats to Bolton against his wife and child, A neighbour stated that a few days ago, when the wife told her husband that she intended telling the commander of H.M.S. Philomel that Danaford was not treating her properly and that they were going to seek a divorce, the husband had exclaimed “If you do that there will be murder.” •In notes left by Danaford he more that once contradicted himself. Visions of after life were expressed in language that,could hardly be understood.: On one card was scrawled, “Your death: sign, Mrs. Danaford.”

STORY TOLD AT THE INQUEST. ~ VERDICT OF SUICIDE RETURNED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Evidence that Danaford had ill-treated his wife was given at' the. inquest this afternoon. ' - ’ Henry Bolton, engiueer, said he had known the family for the past three years. Danaford’s wife went to live with the Bolton family and their parents last Wednesday morning. Airs. Danaford said she had left her husband because he ill-treated her. Bolton said his wife visited Danaford’s house on January 15 and found Mrs. Dajiaford> lying on the floor unconscious with: blood issuing from her mouth. Since that date Mrs. Danaford had stayed with the Boltons, together with her child. Bolton said he arrived home last, night about 11 p.m. and found his own wife and Mrs. Danaford agitated because the little son had been* missing since the afternoon. Bolton then went to Danaford’s house, knocked and kicked at the door and shouted “George!” Not being answered he went home. A little later Bolton returned accompanied by his mother and wife and again obtained no reply to liis knocking. 'They went home and again went to the house about midnight, this time accompanied by Mrs. Danaford. Again there was no reply to the knocks so Bolton and Mrs. Danaford went to the Devonport police. When shown playing cards and pieces of -paper with writing on them Bolton said he recognised the handwriting of Danaford. In answer to a question Bolton said Danaford was “sometimes not right in his head. Somfc days he was all right and on others quite funny. He and his wife had been separated once before. He had never done the right thing by per all along.” . Constable Butler, Devonport, said that when the door was forced the constable found Danaford in the kitchen with his head and shoulders in the gas stove. Danaford was fully clothed except for his coat. He had been dead about six' hours. The gas jet of the oven was turned full on. The little boy Dennis, was lying face downwards about two feet from his father. The child s body was slightly warm and he had been dead apparently about two hours. In the door of the kitchen rags and papers had been stuffed to prevent 'gas from escaping. ... A verdict, of suicide by gas poisoning was returned in tjje case of the father. Death by gas poisoning was the verdict in. the case of the child. The coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., added that the father committed suicide by that means and keptthe child in the room while so doing. Letters left by the father showed his intention that the child should die. A naval funeral has been arranged for to'-morrow afternoon.