VICTIM IDENTIFIED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22473, 7 January 1943, Page 2

VICTIM IDENTIFIED

Marriage Arranged For Following Day

(N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. It was disclosed at the inquest this morning that the victim of the. burnt car tragedy was Duncan William Edwards, a freezing worker, aged 36. He was to have been married at midday yesterday to an Auckland woman. The Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, received a letter to-day, unstamped and signed by the deceased, who gave his name as Edwards, alias Harry George Evans. The deceased said in the letter that he was sane and understood exactly what he did. He criticised the Police and Detective Force, alleging that they had driven him into taking his life. The deceased expressed a wish in the letter that everything he possessed should be given to the young woman he was to marry.

In evidence identifying the body, this woman said she had always known deceased as Evans, and had first met him at a theatre eight months ago. Following an interview on Sunday with the police regarding his military obligations, he told her that he had cleared out from Burnham military camp before coming to Auckland. They decided to get married, and on Monday he secured a marriage licence. When he left witness on Monday night he seemed worried over military matters and about being apprehended by the police, and was quieter than usual. He gave no indication that he would take his life and asked witness to look after two £5 notes and two £1 notes for him. The Inquest was adjourned.