PAPANUI TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 December 1927, Page 5

PAPANUI TRAGEDY.

THE INQUEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association,) eiIRISTCHDKCir, Tuesday. Murder and suicide was the verdict returned at the inquest to-day concerning the deaths of Olive Edith Foster, aged 31, and her husband, William Alexander Foster, aged Mb, at their home at .‘il Godley Avenue, Papanui, on Saturday morning last. Foster killed his wife with an axe, and then took his own life by drowning himself in the bath. Letters written by Foster showed that lie intended to kill his live children .also. The milkman, who discovered the bodies of Foster and his wife, found four letters addressed to various people, which subsequently showed .'that Foster deliberately decided upon -suicide, and indicated that he had perhaps discussed a death pact with his wife. Detective-Sergeant J. B. Young said that on Friday he had occasion to interview Foster at the Papanui School in regard to certain allegations that were made against him. "lie was upset when he heard the allegations,’ ’ said the detective-sergeant. “The following morning I received a letter from him.” The Coroner: “What, was the nature of the allegations.”’—“The nature of it was that he had been guilty of indecent assault.” On: schoolboys —Yes. The following letters written by Foster were handed in to the Coroner: To Detective-Sergeant Young, Foster wrote in a legible, steady hand:— “I've saved you a bit of unsavoury work, old man. There T 1 be no need of a warrant. Y'ou knew I was guilty, but vou had only a very small corner of the case. The more you dug, the more you would have found. So'ceasc tire; this job is over. Pigeon-hole the papers and thank God you didn’t hare to see it through. Good luck. —W. A. Foster.’ Then followed: “I’m trying to bluff the Coroner and my family into thinking it was money troubles, so keep up the farce, there’s a sport. —W.A.F.” The letter to Mr Gates was as follows:—“Dear Mr Gates,—This is the end. Thank you for all your kindness, which turns out to have been wasted. You are well rid of me. God bless you.”—W. A. Foster.” In a lengthy letter to Mr J. J. Hall Foster wrote: —“A message from the dead for you and Gibbs. My past was too strong; it rose up and hit me. 1 can’t face prison, so I’m facing the judgment of God. He will best know what to do with a poor miserable sinner like me. 1 have no hopes of heaven, but in hell if I sec you go past on your way to heaven, I’l give you a wave in remembrance of all you have tried to do for me here. I hold no bitterness against anyone. I’ve landed myself in this mess and deserve all I get.” To his mother, Foster wrote: “I’m not mad; I know quite well what I am doing. I’ve made a mess of my life and this is the only way out of it. I promised Olive I’d never go without taking her too. The kiddies will be bett-ei off dead. Good-bye, mother. Don’t fret. God bless you and help you to forget me. Forgive me. —1 our losing son, Willie.”