TRAGEDY AT ROYAL OAK

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 7

TRAGEDY AT ROYAL OAK

HOTEL LICENSEE’S DEATH

FOUND SHOT BESIDE HIS WIFE.

WELLINGTON INQUEST EVIDENCE.

RELATIONS OF PAIR STRAINED.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Royal Oak Hotel tragedy on March 24, when James Alfred Duncan, licensee of the hotel, and his wife were found shot dead in their room at the hotel shortly after 6 a.m., was the subject of an inquiry to-day. The coroner, Mr. W. Gilbertson, said he would give his decision on Friday morning. The coroner read a statement by Mr, A. J. Mazengarb, solicitor, to the effect that he had been consulted by Mrs. Duncan regarding separation and maintenance proceedings and had written to Duncan asking him to consult his solicitors. Subsequent negotiations led to his informing Mrs. Duncan that she would be entitled, if she so desired, to leave the Royal Oak Hotel. He wrote to Duncan and Duncan’s solicitor at once notifying them, that she was leaving and that proceedings would be issued on March 25. He left Wellington and was informed of the tragedy on his return on Sunday evening, March 24. He did not know why Mrs. Duncan did not leave the hotel as arranged. Medical evidence was given that there was no sign of a struggle and that each had been shot in the head with a small calibre revolver at short range. External features suggested that Mrs. Duncan had been shot while asleep and Duncan’s injury appeared self-inflicted. Police evidence of the hearing of shots and the subsequent investigation was given, and the night porter gave evidence of being called on by the police and told about the shots. He made a search with the other night porter to see if they could find any person in the unoccupied bedrooms or corridors, but found no one. It was the custom to call Duncan by telephone at six o’clock every morning, and when no answer was received that morning and there was no response to knocks the police were informed. The porter entered the bedroom by way of the bathroom window next door and, finding the bodies, opened the door and let the police in. The porter said he heard no shots. He was working at a different part of the hotel.

Detective Robinson said a revolver found in Duncan’s hand contained three live and two discharged shells. \