MARTON TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1626, 18 December 1912, Page 7

MARTON TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. MARRIED MAN COURTS YOUNQ GIRL. STRANGE INFATUATION, v " (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Harton, December 17, Yesterday's tragedy at-JJarton Junction in which 11. W. Urquhart andLorna Gordon lost their lives, was : committed with a Brownilig automatic pistol. Three shots were fired. When found the girl was breathing, out she soon expired. She was face upwards, and the man face downwards in a goi-so bush, with'iris left arm round her neck. An inquest was held here this morning. /Phe father of Urquhart stated that h:s son was worried,' and did not sleeo. The son and his wife,had lived happily* till he, came to Mai-ton, after which the wile hod' 'taken, court proceedings,' which' were after-, wards quashed. The girl and'his son had lieoii photographed together, and this led to the wife applying for a separation order. His sou luul void him that he -had represented himself to his victim as a. single man. He was 28 years.of age. Tile girl's brother said she and Urquhart had kept, company , till it/was discovered', that he v.-as married., The family then instructed a lawyer to write to "Urquhart ou November 27, forbidding communication, and adding that unless he .'complied.', he would be prosecuted for libel contained iu his letters and telegrams. Dr. Scott deposed that he found' that' the man had k'oeu shot' in' two. places, through the stomach and heart, the last .bullet passing through the body and coming out at the.shoulder,blade. The,,girl had'been shot in three places. There was a-flesh wound in the left arni above tho elbow; one through tho right'side, coming out on the.left side; and another on.tho left side at the level of the heart. The shots' had beeii fired'at the girl'at closo quarters, and from the ixisition of tho bodies the witness believed they were sitting "together when, the act'was committed. • .--.'..

' John Lowrie, the girl's brother-in-law, said "she had'known Urquhart for fifteen months. He had represented himself us single, and thero was some talk of an engagement. The-parents gave "their con-;' sent, but wished>to.;know • more •■ about Urqnhart before tho marriage took place, which he wanted, at once. About a'year ago Urquhart returned to WcUingtoni'and the girl went thero as a lady help for a month or two. She returned to Marton on account of ill-health, but went back to Wellington, and there learnt that Urquhart was married.; She returried.lo 31ar-' ton, and Urquhart tried to'communicate' with her in letters and telegrams, in which he made threats.

Lily Urquhart, wife of the deceased, said she had always been on friendly terms with her husband till Miss Gordon.camo into their lives. She complained to her husband, who promised 1 to'' desist,, and told. Miss Gordon to discontinue the'acquaintance; which she refused to do. The' witness issued a warrant for her hysbond's arrest for desertion, but could not prove it. They had had.children, a bov.and.a girl. She knew her husband had represented himself as a single man. .Last week her husband told her ho would give her the shock of her life.

■ After formal evidence had been given, the coroner commented -on. the infatuation of the man, and a verdict r of murder and suicide during: temporary insanity was returned. ....,,...,...