PT. CHEVALIER TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1928, Page 2

PT. CHEVALIER TRAGEDY

.MURDER AND SUICIDE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 10. .. verdict that the male deceased shot his wife and then himself, was returned by Coroner E. K. Hunt, S.M., :it the adjourned inqiiest into the death of the victims of the Point Chevalier tragedy. Peter William C'ios and Beatrice Mabel Clos, who were found dead in their home at Raymond Road, on Thursday. January 26th. The evidence indicated that both Clos and his wife were suffering from nerve trouble and that the man had complained of failing eyesight, and both had spoken of putting an end to their lives. Chief Detective Hammond informed the Coroner that lie had a statement supplied by base records, which he wished to read in order to clear up an allegation made to certain ol the newspapers by friends of Clos, that his failing eyesight was due to war service. According to the statement, Clos’s oversea service lasted from May. 1916, to June. 1917, and he was invalided out on account of a wound in the wrist. His sight was normal when he enlisted and lie did not receive treatment for sickness when on service, and theio was no record ol his being injured by a bursting shell or suffering from shell shock. His wound was not a distressing one. On discharge, he had received a pension of 35s a week for twelve months and at the expiry of that period, be sought to enlist for home service. He was not taken hack, but his pension was renewed for two further periods of twelve months, making three vears tn all. lie l had made no tiwthei application for a pension or for medical treatment. If lie had done so. his claim would have received every consideration, and il he had substantiated it, he would certainly have received medical treatment entirely free of cost.