Double Tragedy

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 6

Double Tragedy

MOTHER AND SON | DEAD / - v . . - •* - ; • " . i ' ' ) Well-known Resident of / Hastings j FOUND IN BATHROOM / A tragedy was discovered in Hastings last night, whep. Mrs Hilda Kathleen McLeod, aged 24, wife of Mr Ian McLeod, was found fatally poisoned and her 2£-year son drowned in the hath. Mrs McLeod, since the hirth of her second child two months ago, has suffered from ill-health and was subject to nervous depression. It was arranged yesterday that Mrs McLeod- should accompany her husbaud and some friends to the pictures last evening, but shortly before they were to leave she expressed a desire not to go. After Mr McLeod had gone to the pictures as originally planned, Mrs McLeod said to the Plunket nurse who was in the house caring for the baby, that she intended having a bath and going to bed, the time then being about 8.40. Shortly after, the nurse had occasion, to be in the vicinity of Mrs McLeod 'g bgdroom when she saw that Mrs Mc • Leod was not in bed and that the door of the elder child 's room was also open^ She then went to the bathroom, which; she found to be locked, and on being unable to get any respottse, -she ira.* mediately communicated with the picture. theatre which Mr McLeod was attending and he was summoned home, Dr. E. Cashmore was - also called. O* making further inveetigations it was found that. the boy, whose name was Ian Breac Stirling • McLeod, had .been drowned in the bath and that Mrs Mc* Leod, who' was also in the bath, had taken a f atal dose of a poison which happened to be in the house. The inquest concerning the deaihs will.be held at 9.30 o'clock to-morrow morniiig. * The late Mrs McLeod was formerly Miss Hilda Carter, - and she came to New Zealand from England some years ago. She at first foflowed her pro* fession'as a teacher in Hawke's Bay. ■' Since her marriage to Mr Ian McLeod she has resided in Hastings with her husband, the brightness of her personality and the happiness of her disposition gaiining for her a wido circle of 'friends by whom she was held in high esteem. She -took part in many social f unctions of the town and dis--trict, and was particularly interested in the activities. of the Hawke's Bay Little Theatre Society, for which she organised play-readings . and had taken minor parts in stage.productions. She wa3 also keenly interested in the work of the Plunket Society.