DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17750, 29 June 1929, Page 7

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

DISCOVERY AT HAMILTON FOUND DEAD TOGETHER ON BED. SAD FATE OF MARRIED COUPLE. POLICE FORCE ENTRY INTO SHOP. A sad doublo tragedy was revealed when members of the Hamilton Police Force forced open the door of a fruit and confectionery shop In Victoria Street, Hamilton, trading under the title of Lees and Co. Lying on a double bed In a room at the rear of the premises they found the dead bodies of EDWARD E. LEES, aged 39, and his wife ILEEN MYRTLE LEES, aged 28. From general appearances It would seem that the couple had been dead for about three days. It would also appear that the cause of death was poisoning. In the kltohon adjacent to the bedroom was a email' bottle whloh had contained poison and alongside was a glass In which was a small quantity of ginger ale, an opened bottle of ginger ale standing alongside.

Poison Administered In Cordial. Appearances lead one to suppose that the poison was administered in the cordial by the husband to his wife, and that he afterwards drank a quantity himself in the kitchen, and then returned to the bedroom where he climbed upon the bed alongside his wife to die. The evidence that leads one to this supposition is the fact that the man was dressed in his trousers and shirt, and lay on top of the bed, while the wife was still in her night attire in bed. The fact that a copy of the Waikato Times of Tuesday last lay open on tne kitchen table, that a frying-pan containing a quantity of cooked i aeon was on the stove, and a couple of clean plates lay on the table, would indicate that the tragedy occurred on Wednesday morning. A pan containing used’ crockery, as though from a dinner, stood near the stove. These articles apparently were the unwashed dishes of the previous evening.

The further fact that a safety razor lay open and a mug of water and a shaving brush were placed as though ready for use, also lends strength -to the belief that the tragedy occurred in the morning. The dressing-table alongside tiie bed was neatly arranged, and the toilet articles and knick knacks usually found in such a place were all carefully laid out-

No Message Left,

So far as could be ascertained at the time of going to press no message had been left by either of the parties, and the only reason so far. that can be assigned for the tragedy is depression, on account of financial worries, as the couple, who it was known had not been doing well, had arranged to close the .shop to-day. Tiie shop where the tragedy occurred is a small lock-up place in the block of buildings situated between the Central Post Office and the Hamilton Hotel, next to the shop of Messrs Turnbull and Jones- It was used for a fruit and confectionery business. It comprised three rooms in all, tiie two at the rear being used respectively as a bedroom and a kitchen, the bedroom lying to the left of the shop and tiie kitchen to the right. The shop was always neatly kept, and the windows nicely arranged, and to the casual observer the business was apparently a flourishing one.

There were those more intimate with how things were going who were, however, aware that business was bad Mr and Mrs Lees, who were childless, were an affectionate couple, and outwardly to their friends and customers, preserved a cheerful attitude. Early in the week, in fact as late as Tuesday last, persons who spoke with them say they appeared quite in their usual spirits. It is known, however, that on Tuesday last Mr Lees purchased a bottle of a certain poison from a near-by chemist.

This would tend to the supposition that so far as the husband was concerned, at any rate, his action was premeditated. Whether, of course, there was understanding between the couple to end their existence together, is difficult to say.

Although the bacon for breakfast was cooked, apparently none had been eaten, as the two plates on the table had not been used. It is also fairly certain that Mr Lees did not perform the act of shaving, for although the safety razor lay apart, the brush was clean and dry, and the mug containing what apparently was the shaving water was unsoiled. There was also a small quantity of uncooked meat on the table-

WORRIED OVER BUSINESS

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

SHOP TO HAVE CLOSED TO-DAY,

Mr Lees is the son of Mr W. F. Lees, of Kihikihi, the principal of W. F. Lees and Co., butchers and storekeepers, of Kihikihi, who also controlled the Hamilton shop. Trooper Lees was in the 11th North Auckland’Mounted Rifles, which formed

INQUEST FORMALLY OPENED

one squad of the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Promoted to the rank of sergeant, he served with distinction ir Gallipoli, and later in Egypt and Palestine, serving in numerous engagements. He was wounded and suffered from malaria, and was invalided home after about three years' service. The dead man enlisted at Whangarei with the main body of the North Auckland Mounted Rifles, and was invalided home about 1916. Last November, Mr Lees, sen., decided to open a fruiterer's shop in the new block recently erected by Hamilton Properties, Ltd. The young couple took up their residence in Hamilton, but it was soon found that the shop was not a paying concern, and Mr Lees, found himself getting into difficulties. Most of the fruit was obtained from the extensive orchards of Mr Lees, sen., at Kihikihi. Last Wednesday week, Mr and Mrs E. Lees went home, and after a conference with Mr Lees, sen., and other members of the family it was decided to close the Hamilton shop to-day. The family all thought this would be done, and expected the couple home this week-end.

Miss Lees, sister of deceased, stated to-day that botti he and Mrs Lees were worried about the shop. She had heard nothing of them until this morning, when she was 'phoned by a member of the Hamilton police force who told her the shop had not neen open for three days and that a tragedy had occurred.

“ I cannot imagine what happened, because Bill (Mr Lees’ nickname) never gave any indication of throwing up the sponge,” Miss Lees added. “ They were both very worried, however.”

An accumulation of newspapers outside the door of the shop showed that no one had been in by that entrance for some days. Mr Aubrey Chitty was chiefly responsible for the discovery of the bodies. He was preparing some plans for Mr Charles McFlynn, Mrs Lees' brother, and called on Thursday but received no response to his knocks at the front and rear doors. Mr Chitty called again yesterday and realised something untoward had happened when lie again got no answer. Mr W. F. Lees visited Hamilton yesterday, but, finding the shop closed, he came to the conclusion that his son and daughter-in-law had already left. He returned to Kihikihi, little dreaming of the tragedy.

DISCOVERY OF TRAGEDY. BODIES SEEN THROUGH WINDOWLOCK TAKEN* OFF DOOR. The tragedy came to be discovered through Mr Chitty requiring certain plans, which he knew had been handed to Mr Lees. • Finding the shop door closed, he peered through the glass panelling and saw the plans lying on the counter. He then went to the office of Mr Crimp, who is secretary for the company owning the building, with a view to getting the key. While he was at Mr Crimp’s office Mr H. I. Foster, architect, Mr Clarke, builder, and a clerk from Mr Crimp's office, went to the back window, which they found unlocked. Lifting the sash they pushed aside a sack which had been fastened across the window from inside, and were horrified to see what apparently was the dead body of Mrs Lees on the bed.

They hastily informed the police, and Mr Challoner, a locksmith, was employed to remove the lock of the front door.

On entering the rear of the premises Constable Sutton found both bodies lying on the bed as described, that of the man being on the far side, nearest the wall.

Detective-Sergeant .7. Thompson and a staff of police took possession of the premises and had the bodies removed to the mortuary.

An inquest was formally opened this morning by Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., District Coroner, for identification purposes, and was adjourned sine die.