DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19599, 11 June 1935, Page 5

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

A MAORI COUPLE.

TERRIBLE injuries inflicted.

HUSBAND WITH THROAT CUT,

discovery in lonely whare

WIIANGAREI, Monday. A tragedy took place In a lonely whare In the Parakao district, 25 miles from Whangarel, to-day, resulting In the deaths of two Maoris. The victims are:— Fraser Edwards, aged 60 years. Mary Edwards, his wife, aged 30. The cause of Mrs Edwards’ death was a fracture of the skull as the result of several heavy blows on her head. Edwards’ death was due to a wound In his throat and shock from blows on the head. Notos apparently written by Edwards were found tacked to the doors of the whare and an adjoining cookhouse, There were also notes in the same handwriting found inside the whare. A police party arrived at the Edwards’ home at 2.25 this afternoon, when an appalling scene presented itself. In a whare covered with nikaus and huilt of logs, was a primitive bed, on which was found Mrs Edwards with a deep wound in her forehead and several other wounds on her heaa. She was dead and apparently deatli had taken place some hours previously. In the same bed was her husband. After receiving medical attention he ■became conscious for a very short time and said, “ I am all right." Questions w'ere put to him, but lie relapsed into unconsciousness and died shortly afterward.

An axe with bloodstains on it was found on the floor of the whare. A blood-stained table knife was also found under the bed.

INQUEST OPENED.

THREATS BY HUSBAND

NEIGHBOUR REMOVES FIRE-ARMS. WIIANGAREI, Monday. An inquest into the deaths of Mr and Mrs Edwards was opened at 3.30 this afternoon before the district coroner, Mr C. F. Collins. B. L. Brown, a settler of Parakao, stated he knew both of the deceased, and during the past few months they had frequently quarrelled. On Friday last they were quarrelling and Mrs Edwards informed witness that Edwards had threatened her with a gun. As the result of the quarrel witness look two guns away to his home, where they were still. Last Saturday Edwards asked witness to return the guns. Witness passed by the whare yesterday and Edwards was very annoyed that witness did not bring the guns back. Mrs Edwards consented to remain with, Edwards provided witness did not return tho guns to her husband. Continuing, witness said Edwards told him he could keep the guns, as oilier things than the gun could be used. This morning, on account of information received from his son, he ■\ visited the whare, and found a note on tlie door. He went inside and saw that Mrs Edwards was dead. Witness immediately communicated with the police. Henry James Brown, son of tho previous witness, stated he called at deceased’s whare to borrow a hammer. He heard groans inside the whare and opened the door and found the room was very dark. He saw Edwards sitting up in bed and asked him what was the matter. Edwards pointed to the door, and said the note would tell. He was apparently uninjured and was sitting up in bed and had in his hands what .witness thought was an axeWitness then went for his father, who was working some distance away. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

UNUSUAL PROCEDURE. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. MAORI REFUSES TO ENTER. DEPOSITIONS OUTSIDE WHARE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WHANGAREI, Tuesday. The inquest on the victims ol' the Parakao tragedy was productive of the adoption of an'ususual course in the taking of evidence. Jack Nau lllnia, who admitted friendship with tiio dead lady, refused to enter the wharc where tlic bodies lay, and where the inquest was being held. Detective Nalder therefore took his depositions in an adjoining cookhouse. ' q'he coroner moved from where lie was sitting inside the wharc to the entrance, with an ear to tho evidence being given by two witnesses, one inside the wharc, and one in the cookhouse. The hour was growing late and in order that the difficult track to'the road should be negotiated in daylight it was necessary to hasten proceedings.