AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 520, 1 August 1932, Page 5

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

Father and Son Found Dead In Bedroom. GAS TURNED ON. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 1. Gas that had been permitted to escape from a heater caused the death of William Charles Morrison, aged fifty years, a married man residing apart from his wife, and his son, John Albert Morrison, aged five years, an only child, on Saturday night. That the tragedy was not accidental j vvas shown by the fact that two win- | dows in the room were closely shut. A | scarf had been placed over a crack at j the top of the door and an old sheet ! had been stuffed into the ventilator in ; the kitchenette adjoining the bedroom. ! The boy, who lived with his mother, | Mrs Ida Morrison, a nurse, of Northcote, was visiting his father for the week-end. The child arrived on the visit on Friday afternoon. On Saturday the pair went to see' the League test match at Carlaw Park, but before the game was finished the father, who had been in ill-health for the past three months, complained of feeling unwell and they returned to his apartment. After they had taken their evening meal the boy was put to bed about nine o’clock, the father playing cards with the owner of the house and others until about 10.30, when he retired. He then appeared to be depressed. About nine o’clock this morning the owner of the house went to the bedroom with deceased’s breakfast, but after knocking received no reply. She then noticed a smell of gas and notified other residents of the hoyse, one of whom summoned the police. Constables on arrival found both father and son in bed, death having taken place several hours previously. The bodies were lying side by side in a three-quarter sized bed. The father, who was dressed in pyjamas and shirt, was lying on his back in a natural position, while the son, who was also in his night attire, lay in a similar attitude of repose. Both were covered by blankets and two rugs, which were not disturbed.