DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19249, 1 August 1932, Page 6

DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND

father takes son s life with HIS OWN. SUFFOCATED IN GAS-FILLED ROOM. By T.jlegraDh Press Association AUCKLAND, July 31. A double tragedy involving the deatn of a child aged five years, and his father, occurred in a flat in Wynyaid Street, on Saturday night. The bodies of the father and son were discovered in bed this morning.

The father was William Charts Morrison (50), a married man residing apart from his wife, while the son was John Albert Morrison, an only child. The boy, who lived with his mother, Mrs Ida Morrison, a nurse, of Northcote, was visiting his father for the week-end. The child arrived on a visit to the father on Friday afternoon. On Saturday the pair went to see the League test match at Carlaw Park, but before the game was finished the father, who had been in ill-health for the past three months, complained of feeling unwell, and they returned to his apartment. After they had taken their evening meal, the boy was put to bed at about 9 o'clock, the father playing cards with the owner of tr.e house and others until about 10.30, when he retired. He then appeared to be depressed.

At about 9 o’clock this morning, the owner of the house, went to the bedroom with deceased's breakfast, but after knocking received no reply. She then noticed a smell of gas and notified other residents of the house, one of whom summoned the police.

Constables on arrival found botn father and son in bed, death having taken place several hours previously. The bodies were lying side by side in a threequarter-sized bed. The fathe-;, who was dressed in pyjamas and a shirt, was lying on his back in a natural position, while the son, who was also in his night attire, lay in a similar attitude of repose. Both were covered by blankets, and two rugs, which were not disturbed. The constables discovered that the gas had been allowed to escape from a gasheater which was turned on but not lighted.

That the tragedy was not accidental was shown by the fact that two windows in the room were closely shut. A scarf had been placed over a crack at the top of the door, and an old sheet had been stuffed into a ventilator In a kitchenette adjoining the bedroom. In the pocket of the son’s pyjamas was a note asking hi> father to “tell him fairy stories in the morning.”

Morrison was formerly in the employ of the Electric Power Board, whose service he joined in 1909. He saw war service, losing one leg, and on his return rejoined the Board’s staff. About three months ago he retired, giving as his reason ill-health, and stating that after a holiday he intended to join a sister in business in New Plymouth. On his retirement tribute to his work was paid by members of the Board. His mother, is a resident of New Plymouth.