SELWYN TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 5

SELWYN TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON WIFE BY Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, February 17. An inquest was held to-day into the death of the second victim in the Selwyn tragedy, Florence Annie Washbourne, wife of William Henry Washbourne of Selwyn, who committed suicide on Monday night after attempting to shoot his wife. Evidence was given that Mrs. Washbourne was 26 years of age, and had had four children, the eldest seven years and the youngest seven months. Until a fortnight ago W. H. Washbourne and his wife had lived apart under agreement,' but about two weeks ago she returned home and the husband accepted her. It was stated the husband had been worried because of his wife’s relations with another man in the district. After Wa.shbourne’s body had been found on Tuesday morning Mrs. Washbonrne knelt beside it, weeping and repeating: “Oh, Daddy, why did vou miss me.” She was interviewed bv a policeman, to whom she admitted she had been familiar with another man, and that this was the cause of the trouble with her husband. She did not, however, give any indication of an intention to commit suicide. In the afternoon after her busband’s suicide Mrs. Washbourne disappeared. It was clear from tlie evidence that the woman could not have got into the dam by accident.

The verdict returned was one of suicide by drowning.