MURDER AND SUICIDE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19961, 20 November 1934, Page 5

MURDER AND SUICIDE

TOKOMARU BAY TRAGEDY By Telegraph—Press Association GISBORNE, November 19. The inquest into the tragedy at Tckomaru Bay on Saturday, when a Maori Barlow Karauria stabbed his wife to death and then committed suicide by cutting his throat, was opened this morning. Karauria’s brother, Alexander, stated that the deceased couple lived fairly amicably, and it whs only since the death of iris father that Barlow Karauria had been acting strangely. Witness gave details of the tragedy, stating that he found Barlow Karauria almost dead, with the knife sticking in his throat, and Mrs Karauria lying prone in a pool of blood. Dr. N. R. McKay stated that he found the bodies on the floor of a large room. Barlow Karauira's body was lying across his wife’s legs. On Mrs Karauria's body were five superficial chest wounds, and two severe neck wounds, which were sufficient to cause death. On Karauria's body there -were two wounds on the neck. Lena Karauria, aged 20, Barlow Karauria’s sister, stated that the couple did not quarrel, but Barlow was inclined to go very queer, and just sit around. On Saturday morning Mrs Kai'auria called her from the kitchen. She tvas struggling with Barlow, who had a knife in his hand, which witness took from him. Later she heard r, noise and found Barlow stabbing his wife. Witness grabbed the children, took them into the garden, and then returned for other children. She found the wife dead, and the husband on the floor alongside her. Pani Hauiki deposed to Barlow Karauria’s moods, stating that on Friday last, he started ordering his wife about. After hearing police evidence concerning Ballow Karauria’s mental state, the jury returned a verdict that Heni Karauria met her death at the hands of her husband, and that the latter committed suicide while of unsound mind.