THE ACCUSATION OF MURDER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13757, 21 September 1908, Page 5

THE ACCUSATION OF MURDER.

.-I COULD NOT FACE MY SON/

By Blectrio Telegraph.— Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 20.

The only surviving son of the lato General Luard (Captain C. E. Luard) arrived at Southampton from South Africa to-day.

Colonel Warde went to Southampton and broke the news to him.

Captain Luard later attended the inquest* on his father's body.

The coroner's jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity.

In the letter written just before his suicide, General Laard complained bitterly of the scandalous nature of the questions adressed to him at the inquest. He said he had received dozens of anonymous letters directly accusing him of murdering his wife. His friends advised him to treat the letters and their insinuations with contempt, hut he was sick of the scandalous and lying reports. "I cannot face my son," he concluded, "so have decided to end my life."

He left, several letters and telegrams to Colonel Warde, his housekeeper and others, indicating that he intended committing suicide.

The driver of the train, seeing him jump in front of the train, vainly tried to stop.

There i« intense public sympathy now evinced for General Luard.