A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

Te Puke Times, 21 February 1930, Page 3

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

WIFE FOUND DEAD BOARDER WITH THROAT CUT A tragic affair, involving the death of a wife and the finding of a boarder with his throat cut, and in a most serious condition, occurred at Auckland on Wednesday night. When Mr John Frederick Beesley, who had been out of employment for some months and who had succeeded in getting a day’s work, returned to his home in Foch Avenue, off Dominion Road, he found the doors of the house locked, and his three children playing outside. On entering the house by a window he discovered the body of his wife lying on the floor with her throat cut and lying in a pool of blood. Near her were somegarments and a thimble and needle and cotton, indicating that she had probably been sitting on thesetee sewing. Her body lay in a crouched position between the settee and the table. There were indications that there had been a terrible struggle in the room. In the front bedroom was found a Mr Potter, a friend of the Beesleys, who had boarded with the family for the last three "or four years,“ with wounds in the throat and chest. The wounded man was unable to speak and was taken to the hospital. Mrs Beesley was aged about 43. According to relatives her married lift was perfectly happy and neighbours describe her as a woman of a most kindly disposition, devoted to her family. Mr Potter is single, "aged about 55, and has been out of work for some considerable time. His laet position was a night porter at a city hotel.