“FORMED AN AGREEMENT TO DO AWAY WITH THEMSELVES”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 63, 16 March 1931, Page 7

“FORMED AN AGREEMENT TO DO AWAY WITH THEMSELVES”

Suicide Verdict Returned At Inquest On Scarborough Tragedy.

THE TRAGEDY at Scarborough when the bodies of Claude Hargood Boundy. aged twenty-three, of 88, Hargood Street, Woolston, and Muriel M’Donald, aged sixteen, of 266, Selwvn Street, Spreydon, were found in the sea, following the report of their disappearance on March 5 was investigated this morning. The inquest was continued by Mr E. D. Mosley, Coroner. A letter found in Boundy’s wallet was submitted to the Coroner. It gave an indication that the pair intended to commit suicide and asked his mother’s forgiveness. “ I can’t come to any other conclusion from the evidence and the letter submitted but that the two entered into a suicide pact and in furtherance of the agreement jumped over the cliffs,” said the Coroner, in giving his verdict that the man and girl died at Scarborough, death being due to suicide by throwing themselves over the cliffs.”

Sergeant Leckie represented the police. Mr Lascelles appeared for the relatives of Boundy. Richard Bedwood Owen, carrying on business as Owen’s, Ltd., tailors, Colombo Street, said that he knew the girl, who had been an apprentice dressmaker in his employ for nearly three 3'ears. She was a very satisfactory employee and was bright and intelligent. He had no idea that she was under sixteen when he first employed her. He haul no reason to believe that the girl was worried. He had spoken to her the day before the tragedy, when she seemed her usual self. To Mr Lascelles, witness said that in appearance and mentality the girl appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old. Gertrude Rita M’Donald, a sister of the dead girl, said that her sister was of robust build. She was living happily, except on the night before she went out. On Wednesday night she was at home as usual, and in bed at ten o’clock, but later got up and went out, coming home at 6.30 on Thursday morning. Her father asked her where she had been, gave her a talking to, and then she said she was sorry. She told witness she had been worried, and had walked down to “ Claude’s place.” She had spent the rest of the night at a married sister’s after seeing Boundy. She stayed at home on the Thursday morning, her mother keeping her in. For three months she had been keeping company with Boundy to witness’s knowledge. At no time had the dead girl given an indication that she would take her life, and had never mentioned being worried except in the one instance. Father’s Evidence. William Henry M’Donald, blacksmith, said that the girl Muriel was his daughter, and was sixteen on June 2 last. She had always lived happily at home, and was in good health. He had occasion to give her a talking to on the Thursday morning, but she said she would not go out any more. The words used were words of advice. His daughter seemed quite happy when he left for work and kissed him good-bye. That was the last he saw of her. Witness did not know Boundy, and had never seen him in his life. He did not know the girl had been keeping company with any young man. Gertrude Alice Boundy said that Claude Boundy was her eldest son and resided with her. He was a single man, twenty-three on October 30 last. He had good health and lived happily at home. He had been out of carpentering work since Christmas, but had plenty of work round the farm, which, however, he did not like. During the week of the tragedy he had had two days on unemployed relief. She knew the girl well, as she had been coming to witness’s house for thirteen months.

She thought she was nineteen years old. Witness last saw her son at tea on the Thursday evening, after which he left on his motor-cycle at 7 p.m. He made no mention of being worried. At this stage a note was produced which witness said looked to be in her son’s handwriting. To Mr Lascelles, witness said her son and the girl were very fond of each other. Deeply in Love. Arnold Johnson, motor mechanic, of 566, Moorhouse Avenue, said that Boundy was his friend. He also knew the girl and knew that the two were keeping company. Bound}*' gave no indication that there any trouble. He last saw the pair together between five and six on the Thursday night, when they both seemed all right. The note produced was in Boundy’s handwriting. To Mr Lascelles witness said that both were of good character and were deeply in love. Constable Johns, stationed at Sumner, gave evidence of the discovery of a motor-cycle under a tree which belonged to Boundy on Scarborough hill on Friday morning, March 6. At the edge of the cliff he saw a motor coat, gloves, watch and pocket book, the property of Boundy. There were also articles which had belonged to the girl. In the afternoon he found the girl’s body at the foot of the cliffs, while on the Sunday Boundy’s body was recovered. On the Saturday he found a note in the pocket book. Mr Lascelles: The note indicates that they were quite united?—The man speaking for himself suggested that. References in Note. The Coroner: In the note Boundy refers to Mr M’Donald, but Mr M’Don. aid says he had never seen the young man. Boundy refers to certain treatment by Mr M’Donald, but Mr M’Donald did not know the man. It looks as if there was something 'wrong mentally with Boundy. He refers to Mr M’Donald “treating him like a dog,” but that is evidently not true. “Mutual Intention.” “These young people seem to have been respectable persons, quite happy at home in the ordinary way, but they had formed an agreement between themselves to do away with their own lives,” said Mr Mosley. “We have evidence that they rode down to above the Scarborough cliffs and maefce arrangements for committing suicide by divesting themselves of some of their wearing apparel and leaving various articles on the edge of the cliff. Then there is the note left, which shows a mutual intention evidently of committing suicide. That is the correct view, I think. There is only one other view to which I will not refer, and that is not supported by the evidence and was very improbable.” The Coroner then returned the verdict of suicide.