CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1927, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

.MAN MURDERS WIFE, fl y Telegraph Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. A double tragedy occurred at 291 Manchester Street early this morning, when Frederick Chits Davies, aged 36, telegraph linesman, murdered his wife, Edith Alay Davies, aged 19 years and one month, by cutting her throat with a razor. He then committed .suicide by cutting his own throat, and inserting a gas tube in his mouth. The tragedy was discovered by a, sister of the dead woman, A'era. "Wilson, and Dorothy Finnic, who was sleeping in the house. At 2 u.m. Dorothy Finnic heard a scream and awoke A’era AYilson. They hoard sounds of moaning. and were afraid that Davis had killed 1 1 is wife, as it is alleged that he half previously threatened to do. They were frightened to move till 6.1.) a .-m. when they el imbed through a window and called in, two neighbours who discovered tho bodies of both husband and wife. They were clad in their night clothes, and the woman was lying in lied soaked with blood. A blood-stained razor was lying closed on the foot of the hod. The man was lying in a pool of blood in the .scullery. with a gas tube beside him. Tt is understood that Davis, who was of a tactifurn disposition, wots devoted to his wife, hut jealous of her. An inquest was opened this afternoon before Ah Afosley. S.AL, when Joseph MiHiain Davis, brother ol deceased identified ihe bodies of his brother and sister-in-law. They bad called on him at Fendalion, on Saturday night, and remained for some time. They seemed completely jovial and happy. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

The deceased leaves a child ihivo months old. who was in the mum at tho time of the murder.