TRAGEDY ON WATERFRONT

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1930, Page 11

TRAGEDY ON WATERFRONT

AUCKLAND COUFtE’S PACT MAN DROWNED IN THE HARBOUR. WOMAN RESCUED TO TELL STORY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A plea of guilty to a charge of attempting to commit suicide was entered by Julia Hayes Cubitt (Mr. Finley} in the Police Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to-day. Chief-Detective Hammond said the woman had been found unconscious on the eastern tide deflector some weeks ago. She had been in hospital ever since. As she was helped into the court room by two men Mrs. Cubitt was trembling violently, and she sat ’ throughout the proceedings with her head bowed. She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months.

The inquest into the death of John Llewellyn Davies was then begun. "I do not remember what happened on the waterfront, nor do I remember going into the water; my recollection is blank as to that.” Trembling, Mrs. Cubitt indicated with a nod of her head that the foregoing statement was hers. The statement continued: “I was divorced three years ago, following upon a deed of separation between my husband and myself. I became acquainted with Davies two years ago. I was with him on New Year’s Eve. I met him about 10 p.m. at the house of a relative of mine. I-had been at my relative’s house all day. Davies came lihere by arrangement. There had been no talk of suicide up till then. "We left my relative’s house. between half-past ten and half-past eleven went into town. We walked up and down the street for some time. Davies was in a mental'- condition that I had never seen him in before. He was terribly worried and melancholic, and was talking wildly. We finally arrived at a hotel in the city where Davies had a friend. I was very worried myself at that time, in fact, distracted. We went from'the, hotel to the waterfront after having written letters of farewell at' the hotel. We had not agreed to commit suicide, but I knew that if Davies committed suicide I could only do the same, and I was worried about him and what he would do.”

' For a month Mrs. Cubitt, who is a midwife, aged 33, has been in the Auckland hospital in a bad state of health. Until to-day she was unable to tell her story of the New Year’s ’ Day waterfront tragedy.' David L. Lewis, assistant manager of Radio, Ltd., said he had worked for Davies for a number of years. For some time he had seemed depressed and upset, and on December 30 he called witness into his office and told him he was going to make an end of things. Later he seemed better. They had a drink together at the conclusion of the day’s work on December, 31. For; the: past six months Davies had been in a* very nervy condition. He had frequently complained of. pains and noises in his head, and said that he had not been sleeping well. Mr. Hammond said Davies’ wife was in a state of collapse and could not attend.

Mr. Hunt: What further evidence have we ? Mr. Hammond: We have evidence that Davies was in a state of infatuation with this woman, and that he intended to commit suicide.

John Francis Stone, a taxi driver, said he took Davies and Mrs. Cubitt to Luna Park at 1.45 a.m. on January 1. Davies asked him to drive a little further, and he did so, putting them down near the Yacht Club’s premises. Both were sober. “The only other witness I would like to call would be Mrs. Davies,” said Mr. Hammond.

“She won’t be able to tell us any more,” said the magistrate. Suicide by drowning was the verdict of the coroner.