THE GONVILLE TRAGEDY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18409, 5 February 1932, Page 3

THE GONVILLE TRAGEDY.

INQUEST ON VICTIMS

LITTLE GIRL’S EXPERIENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association) WANGANUI, Feb. 5

At the inquest on the victims of the Gonville tragedy on Monday night, Violetta Frances Gray, aged 35, and Violet Erica Cooper, her daughter, aged five, the evidence disclosed that'Mrs Gray had, prior to the tragedy, been attended by Dr. Cooke for a minor ailment, but had made a good recovery. On Monday she went to the city and did sonic shopping, as it was her birthday. She bought a saucepna and two razor-blades. Returning home, she went straight to bed, and, shortly before 10 o’clock, she asked her husband to go for a doctor, remarking that she could not stand the pain much longer. During the absence of her husband the tragedy occurred. On returning, he found the eldest girl, Joan, standing at the door. She remarked: “Mummy is dead, and has killed Pa'ddy.” Mrs Gray was lying in the hall on her back in a pool of blqod, and the little girl was dead In bed. The deceased’s nerves had been upset at the time of the Nelson earthquake, although she always appeared to be normal. •Joan Cooper, aged 12 years, said she heard her mother go outside, and she later came into witness’ bedroom, jumping and dancing. She had a razor in her hand, and made for witness, and cut her neck. She then attacked Violet, who was asleep. She saw her mother cut Violet’s throat. Witness made repeated efforts to save her sister, but her mother cut witness dp lier left lia ' Her mother exclaimed: “I cannot help it. Tell daddy lam sorry.” Witness ran out on to the verandah, and her mother then came ouu of the bedroom into the passage, and cut her throat. - The verdict was that the death of the little girl was due to hae-. morrhage, caused by the severance of the carotia artery, the wound being inflicted by her mother while in a 'state of unsound mind, and that the death of the mother was due to haemorrhage, caused by the severance of the carotia artery, the wound being self-inflicted, while m a state of temporary insanity.