LET HUSBAND DROWN

Chronicle (Levin), 2 March 1948, Page 4

LET HUSBAND DROWN

Press AssQctation)

Coroner Castigates Wife And Witness

. (Per

NEW PLYMOl'THj iMar. 1. ' f By their callous coitduct to cleeeaBetl; the prineipal w.itnesses hurried hihi to his death in an unnatural way, ' ' . paid the Coroner, Mr, W. G. LiddoU, J.P., after an inquest at Stratford today on the death of Maxwell A. Robinsson, fanner, of P.uiii whakau, aged*34, whom the Coroner found drowned himself in- the Mangaehu ' River^ near his' home on the evening of Jahuary 25. ' ' The eourt is of opinion that the two prineipal Witnesses aeted in a very callous manher," saicl Mr/Lidclell. "The\ let deceased. go to the river after he had; expressed - an intention of drowning/ himsfelf, witljout- taking any steps to stop him. • If eaeh kas a eonseience L think it will for years be disturbed," The witnesses to whom Mr. Lidde'l] referred were deceased's wife, Olive. Elizabeth Robinson, and Dennis Joseph Hhaw, of "Toko, who spent the weekend at Robinson 's home when deceaged drowned himself. "I thougiit he was blufling, " said .Mrs Robinson when the Coroner asked why she did not follow h er husba'nd when he said he was going to flrown himself. "1-Ie had threatened to do it before.:' . ' "When Robinson said he was going to drown himself von an(l Mrs. Robjnson. retuvned to the house -without caring* twopenee for him," said the Coroner -to Shaw. "Mrs. -Robinson said not to be worrjed, " Shaw replied. "We 'sat.in the house and waited for his return." He doubted whetlier he eould have saved Robinson beeause he was not a good swimmer and if would have been djfficult to give- the alarm, , Mr, Liddell: You knew your presence- was not welcomed by Robinson? Shaw: That's right, v Constable George Henrv Gi'aluun said there was ample evidence that on '.Tanuai'y 24 and 25 Robinson wns suffering from a deep fit of jealousy. There was also ample evidence that lm was given every eause to be jealous and that he r'ealised that a ctisis in his faniilyhad been reaclied. '