AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 7

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

PT. CHEVALIER SHOOTING. VERDICT AT THE INQUESTS. MURDER AND SUICIDE. AUCKLAND, Saturday. At the adjourned inquest into the deaths of the victims of the Point, Chevalier tragedy, Peter William Clos and Beatrice Mabel Clos, who were found dead in their home on Thursday, January 26, a verdict was returned that the male deceased shot his wife and then himself. Hilda Marion Barnett, daughter of Mrs Clos by a former marriage, said her stepfather was of a violent temper and given to being sulky. However, there was no discord between the couple. Her mother suffered from nerve trouble and heart attacks. She was often melancholy, and after a restless night would say that- she was tired of life and would like to end everything. When she said this in her husband’s hearing he would reply: “If you die I will die too.”

Witness said she last saw them on the evening of Monday, January 23. Her mother was then unwell. Her stepfather mentioned that his eyes were troubling him, and declared that he was going blind. He did not suggest that he intended to commit suicide. He did not appear to be worried over finance, as he had been in work until three weeks before. She was strongly of opinion that the deaths were prearranged. William Albert Simmonds said he had been an intimate friend of Clos for five years. On Sunday, January 22, Clos came to see him and spoke of a number of troubles. He said h had lost his job and had borrowed £ls on his furniture. He was paying the money to his wife in weekly instalments, and had come nearly to the end of it. His wife was taking eight or nine aspirin tablets every night, and half his wages were going in “ dope.’’ lie talked of putting an end to his life, and even declared that he would leave his bicycle to witness’ son. Witness told him to be a man and “ hold up,” and offered to get him a job, but be appeared not to heed.