A TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1928, Page 2

A TRAGEDY

By Telegraph—Press Assn.; Copyright.

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 18

The home of Percy H. Surrey, a well-known Huirangi farmer, was the scene of a shocking tragedy early yesterday morning, under circumstances that suggest an act of dementia on the part of the elder woman, Mr Surrey’s wife, Eleanor Emma Surrey, aged 49 years. She and her dughter Beryl Minnie Surrey, aged 19 years, were found dead in a locked bedroom, shot through the breast, with a sporting rifle.

It is stated that for a year or more Mirs Surrey had been constantly under the care of a doctor, suffering chiefly from inability to -sleep. Though her suffering was not noticed to lie particularly accentuated on the day prior to the tragedy, she was known to have been considerably exercised- in mind during the last' month or so over the effects of insomnia. The family lived, as a rule,- on the most affectionate terms, and it is therefore surmised that the tragic double fatality could only have been the outcome of the working of an unbalanced mind. No indication of what the fatal night was to bring was given on Sunday evening. Surrey, who himself has l>eon more or less an invalid for three- yeais, retired to bed early and was soon followed by the rest of the household, consisting of bis wife, bis daughter and his two sons. About 7.30 p.m. Mrs Surrey took her husband a glass of water, appearing at the time in her normal state of health and mind. It was the last time that he saw her hlive. Owing to the condition of their health, .she did not sleep in the same room as he, but with the daughter in another room. The women occupied separate beds. About 1.30 a.m. Surrey was awakened by what seomed to bo the sound of a dull thud, and the noise of a woman in distress. On investigation, lie found that the door of the room occupied by bis wife and daughter was looked. Access to tlie room was gained l-y going out on to the verandah and getting through a window. A candle was still burning on the dressing table, and an open book and spectacles were lying on Mrs Surrey’s lied. The daughter was breathing when Mr Surrey entered the room, hut she expired almost immediately. Mrs Surrey was dead. On arrival the doctor could only pronounce life extinct. The shot gun found in Mrs Surrey’s room lielonged to her son, and was kept in another part of the house.