DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1924, Page 1

DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

MARRIED COUPLE FOUND DEAD. IUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SYDNEY, Feb. 19. Another mysterious tragedy is reported, supposedly a murder and -suicide. To-day the bodies of a married couple, named Wade, were discovered in one of the flats of a boarding establishment at Edgecliff in an advanced stage of decomposition. Airs Wade was in bed in the front room, and the husband in a back room.

Owing to tie stench ot the decaying bodies, the investigations were delayed while the house was disinfected. After the disinfecting, the police entered the flat. They discovered letters explaining the tragedy. The man’s name was William D. Wade. He was an engineer. Some days ago, the other tenants of the house complained of an otfensive smell, and asked the proprietor to get the plumbers, tu remedy what they supposed to he a defective pipe. Nothing, however, was done. To-day a friend of the AYade’s called, but, finding the flat locked, and suspecting something was wrong, communicated with the police, who forced ail entrance, and found both had been shot through the head with a revolver. At Wade’s side was his diary, and a number of letters, which showed financial difficulties, and that a belie! that the ■.vile was suffering from an incurable disease led to the committal of the double tragedy.

Letters dated the third of January indicate that Wade committed suicide on that day. One letter to the doctor says:—“J. have taken a certain course, which, [ think, is the best to end my wife’s and my own sufferings. The only thing is the fear of failure, and the risk of interruption.” He thanks the doctor fur his kindness and consideration.

lit another letter to the proprietor of the house, Wade explains his intention, and adds:—“l am sorry to do this on your premises, but there is no other way.” I gave my wife large doses of veronal, but they failed. Had ibis succeeded, there would have been no need for what I am going to do. Mv end would come afterwards, but not in a flat.”

Another letter to friends says:—“lf f succeed to-night, and my wife and f are dead, you can rejoice that our troubles are over.”

Other otters refer to the disposal of iiroperty. The Wades lived a reserved life, though they moved in good so■iot v.

Remarkable features of the case arc that their neighbours and the other residents in the flats were not inquisitive regarding tlie AVades’ absence, or Hint the electric lights m (heir rooms bad been burning continuously since the night of the tragedy, and were alight when the police forced an entry.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. Fob. !2<). AVado is a mail of thirty-live. They lived in the top flat of the three which the house contained. It ways always kept reserved, lienee their not being missed is easily explained. The diary tells a pathetic story of the woman’s acute sufl'erinp; from wlmt i' believed to have been cancer, and the husband’s nil tiring devotion and sacrifice, even to death. It appears that AVado had tried to float a company, which met with failure, and ftir a week or two lief ore the day of the tragedy, his time was divided between winding up his shattered business affairs and lightening the sufferings of his wife. He kept the fact of his failure from his wife. The doctor had told him that his wife’s breast would have to come off. After referring to the terrible pain this would involve AVado writes that he had not then made up his mind. The diary contains a specially pathetic reference to the last day. Sunday . At his wife’s request he took her to church. He refers to her intense suffering while there, and afterwards infers that it affected her mentality. He refers to his own agony at her sufferings. and gives an analysis of his own feelings in forcing himself to do the premeditated deed to relieve his wife from suffering. ITe feared the failure to carry it out without detection.