GAS POISONING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1933, Page 2

GAS POISONING

TRAGEDY AT CHRISTCHURCH -FURTHER. PARTICULARS OF CASE (Per Press Association Copyright.}

CHRISTCHURCH, November 15.

When'; the wife and three children of Reginald John Merriman, aged 31, chauffeur, employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, were found dead at their home, 118, .Kerr’s Road, Avonside, this morning, Merriman himself was found unconscious, suffering apparently from gas poisoning, which is believed to have been the cause of the deaths of the other members of file, family,,,, He was removed to the Christchurch Hospital. His condition

this evening is reported to be sen’ous. The discovery that the tragedy had occurred was made bv Messrs G. K.

Burton and Tom Robson, neighbours,

who called at Merriman’s house at 10.30 this morning. Burton’s suspicions were aroused when he noticed; as he passed the house, that the meat and bread left by r tradesmen had not been taken into the house. The two men could not attract the attention of the occupants of the house, and eventually they broke the kitchen window. There wag a strong siliell of

gas. Burton clliribecl throtigli the window, aiid fOtlrid tlio tlirbo Ohiidreii lying dead On the fiiattfeSs on the floor. Merl'iman Was lying beside, the gas stove unconscious, but was groaning heavily. Mrs Merrimun was in the bedroom lying under the clothes, as though asleep, but she too was found to be dead. .

As soon as the discovery’ was made, Burton summoned a doctor, the police and the St John Ambulance, which conveyed the unconscious man to the hosoital.

As there was no smell of gas in the bedroom, and the doors between the kitchen and bedi’oom were closed, it is [ considered that’ Mrs Merriman must j have been carried, either dead or unI conscious, from one room to the other. The children too, must have been taken from their bedrooms to the kitchen. A tube was found leading from the gas stove to where the children were lying on the floor.' Merriman had been an employee of the Postal Department since he was young’;' and for some time had been driver of vans collecting letters from pillar-boxes in the city and suburbs. His home was a modern little' bungalow in • good condition, comfortably furnished, with a neat, well tended garden, if In all. respects, the household appeared to be normal and happy. The family had lived in the district three years,: and - were highly respected by their neighbours. ' ■ Mrs Merriman (nee Elizabeth Sullivan) came from the Chatham Islands, I where her parents reside. ' • ”

The Coroner (Mr % D. Mosley) illspOcted the scerle of.the tragedy,' aiid ordered the removal of tlie bodies to the morgue. He will open an inquest to-morow morning, -