THE BROOK STREET TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 11, 8 October 1919, Page 8

THE BROOK STREET TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

CORONER'S VERDICT

Tho murder and suicide tragedy of Monday evening was investigated at an inquest on tho bodies of the victims, Police Constable Vivian Dudding and Alexander Aspin, held by Mr. E. Page, S.M.. at the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Police Superintendent Norwood conducted tho inquiry on behiilf of tho police. • ' Dr. E. Litchiield gave evidenco as to attending both the constable, and Aspin. The bullet which killed Constable Duoding entered tho skull above the right eye, and passed out at the base of the skull. Aspin was shot through tho head from side to side.. Both deceased were removed to the hospital.

Mrs. Aspin said that her husband was a Norwegian, and she married him in 1906. Slio had obtained separation orders against the deceased on former occasions, and in December last she obtained a divorce from him. She had been I residing at No. 9 Brook Street for some time, and hearing a knock at tho front door at about 6 p.m., 6he opened the door, and saw tho deceased Aspin approaching. She went inside, and secured both doors. She next saw her husband through the back window when he was trying to open the back door. Witness told him that if he did not go away she would cull the police. He replied, "That's just what I want you to do." Witness then went out «of the front door, .which she locked behind her. and went to Little Pipitca Street, where she met two brothers named Hamilton. One of the men was boarding at witness's home. On her way backshe heard a gunshot report. Continuing, witness said that in July, 1918, Aspin attempted to commit suicide by taking poison. He had often threatened to take witness's life, and had been constantly trespassing on her property. Asnin had threatened to shoot her. Whon ho arrived at her house on Monday ovening he appeared to have had some arink. After hearing the shot, witness heard from a neighbour that her husband had shot a policeman. Charles Coulby, Harbour Board employee, said that he saw Aspin attempting to force the back door of Mrs. Aspin's house, and, fearing trouble, wont for Constable Dudding. The latter put on his uniform and accompanied witness to the backyard of No. 9 Brook btreet. Witness and the constable theu looked through tho kitchen window, ano: suddenly someone fired from withm tho kitchen, and' Constable Dudding fell to the "round beside witness without uttering a word. Witness ran for assistance, and Sergeant Mathieson and two constables arrived'shortly afterwards. Witness know that Aspin was addictetf to drink, but was not aware that he car; ricd a revolver. ~ , George Frederick Cogdale, who resided next door to Mrs. Aspin, said that ho •heard a loud knocking next door, and then heard a crash of glass. He saw Aspin endeavouring to break into tho house. He went outside, and saw Constable Dudding and the last witness arrive He then hoard a revolver shot, and a little later saw that tho cut tains covering the windows in the downstairs front room were on fire. He gave the alarm, and then attempted to put tho firo out. Ho later saw Constable Dudding lying in the backyard with a bullet wound in his head. _ James Garwood, senior fireman in charge of the Thorndon fire brigade sta. tion gave evidenco as to receiving the alarm of fire at No. 9 Brook Street ( Tho outbreak was trivial, and soon extinguished. He walked away a littlo dis. tance. and saw the shadow of a person apparently setting firo to tho curtains m tho upstairs front room. The hose was applied to this second outbreak, which was also easily extinguished. Robert Francis Joyce gavo ovidenco as to rendering first aid to Constable Dudding, and also stated that as they were leavui" the backyard witness saw a man at tho upstairs window applying a lieht to the curtains. Sergeant Mathieson said that at b.20 p.m. on Monday, in company with Con. stables Williams, Hoodie, and Carmody, he proceeded to No. 9 Brook Street, where he found: Constable Dudding with a billet wound! in his head. Constable Dudding was unconscious, and they removed him to Dr. Litchfield's homo. Witness returned to tho house, and in company with Superintendent Norwood and Constable Williams, ho entered tho house through the front window. In an unstairs backroom he found Aspm lying with a bullet wound in his head. On a chair near by ho found an automatic colt pistol covered with blood. In tho kitchen downstairs witness found an empty cartridge case-it was lying on the floor opposite to tho, window., lho cartridge case fitted the pistol, and" was similar in all respects to the other live cartridges found in tho house. Dr. Litchfield attended Aspin, and sent him lo the hospital. The back window of the kitchen was broken.to pieces and the back door wns bolted. Aspm apparently entered tho house through this win- : Consta'tyo F. W. Williams said that lis «v someone upstairs lighting tho .curtains, and ho then heard a revolver shot. Presuming Aspin had been shot, witness scaled a ladder, and looked in the window, but could not see Aspin. Witness corroborated- the evidence of Sergeant Mathieson as to the examination of tho premises. He had known Asnin for some time, and he had been informed that Aspin had threatened- lv shoot Constable Lake. Constable C. Chestnut, who accompanied Asnin to the hospital, gave formal evidence. . In delivering his verdict His Worship said that Constable Dudding'was killed by Vspin by a revolver' shot, and at the time the killing took place Aspin was trespassing on his wife's premises. The deceased constable had obeyed a call for assistance, and. as he, approached the house he was wantonly shot, and died in n few hours. As to Aspin. His WorshiD found that he committed suicide by shooting himself. FUNERAL OF CONSTABLE DUDDING. The funeral of the late Constable Dudding will leave the mortuary chapel of » Morris,, jun., Taranaki Street, at 3 'p.in. to-day 1 for Karori Cemetery.