BALCLUTHA TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1762, 29 May 1913, Page 4

BALCLUTHA TRAGEDY.

INQUEST ON P. J. UTTLEWOOD

(By Tflloerapli.—Preaa Association.) Dunedin, May 28. An inquest on tho body of Frederick John Littlewood, who died at BaMutlu oil April 27, was coucludod j-esterday.

Dr. Stenhouso stated that ho thought that Mrs. Littlewood's injuries had been caused by a blunt-edged instrument. 11l was quite feasible ■ that they had becu caused by the back edge of a niuttock,. Tho child was suffering from a very largo bruise oil tho . head and a fracture of tho skull, and lie also showed »icns of concussion of the brain, Mrs. Littlewood also had symptoms of concussion of thu brain. It was almost impossible to say whether Littlewood was dead before tho fire reached him. ~ ! Kthel Littlewood, widow of tho deceased, said that on April 26, her husband appeared a bit down-hearted and depressed. During tho night she missed him from the bedroom, but ho returned when .she called out to him. When witness asked him where ho had been ho did not reply, but caught her by tho shoulder, struck her on the head with tho woodchopper, and caught her by tho throatShe then lost consciousness. \\ hen sue eamo to she found tho bedroom door c osed. On opening tho door she found tho house on fire. Tho child; c rlel J when it was struck, but was quiet after "'at. When she discovered tho fire she out. the child out of the window and she thought it must haw fallen on to tho footpath. Her husband did not .drink, lhe onlv solution she could give of his mental lapse was that he had. been troubled through wont of sleep. Ho had told her he had been unable to sleep. Tho jury returned a verdict- that tlio evidence pointed to a fit of temporary insanity, but that there was not sutiicient evidence to show whether the deceased camo by his death from fire or fiom a 'self-inflicted wound.