GAS TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1933, Page 6

GAS TRAGEDY

FOUR DEAD.

MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN

(Per Press Association — Copyright )

CHRISTCHURCH, November 15

A tragedy is -reported from Kerr’s Road, Avondale, where four persons wer 6 found dead this morning.

Mrs Merriman, wife of Reginald John Merriman, a mail room messenger, and her three children, Lois, aged 8, Dick aged 7," and Helen aged 6. Merriman himself is unconsicous at the hospital. The cause of the tragedy is gas poisoning.

MERRIMAN HAS G.AB TUBE IN

MOUTH

CHRISTCHURCH, November 15

When found the three children wei’e in the kitchen which was filled with gas. AH the dead were in their night attire. Merriman wa s unconsicous near a stove, with a tube in his mouth and Mrs Merriman was in the bedroom dead. Merriman is aged 31 years and bad 14 years’ s ervice in the Postal Department. He is a motor driver, and usually drove a van. He had frequently driven Ministers of the Crown in the official car on visits. He has the reputation of being a steady -going man, and he appeared to be normal yesterday.

FURTHER PARTICULARS

CHRISTCHURCH, November 15

The discovery was made 'by neighbours who grew anxious when they heard none of the uusal noises next door this morning.

One neighbour after investigation, suspected something was wrong, broke the kitche in window and entered the house -and made the tragic discovery. After finding the children on the floor, the neighbour entered the Merriman’s bedroom and found Mrs Merriman lying under th e bedclothes dead, apparently also gassed, though there wa, s no trace of gas in this room.*'