DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3836, 25 August 1928, Page 3

DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

MURDER AND SUICIDE

JEALOUSY THE MOTIVE. GIRL WITH TWO LOVERS. Dunedin, Last Night. A single woman named Peggy M’lnnes Avas found at Waitati shoutly after midnight with her throat cut, and her head bashed in, and nearby Avas found the body of Thomas Ellis Avith his throat cut. The details of the tragedy seem to reveal a brutal murder. The scene Avas the grounds of the Orakanui Mental Home. The murdered Avoman, Peggy M’Innes aged 25, Avas employed as a nurse on the staff, having been recently transferred from Seacliff. Thomas Ellis, aged about 35, Avas a bricklayer. Just before midnight Constable Pearce Avas awakened by a man named O’Neill, a member of the hospital staff, aa'lio stated that he had heard groans from the drive, and on going out had found Ellis staggering about AA'ith his throat cut. Pearce, on going to the scene, found Ellis dead. He returned home, but later Avas awakened with the news that a nurse Avas missing. After a search her body Avas found amongst the scrub beneath the pine trees. She Avas lying on a travelling fug. Her head Avas terribly bashed and her throat cut. The deed Avas apparently done with a stone tied in a handkerchief and a pocket knife. It transpires that Ellis, Avith his throat cut Avas found roaming around the hospital grounds Avithin thirty yards of the spot Avhere the murdered girl Avas subsequently located. This means that his cries must have been particularly loud to have attracted notice from the hospital building. LETTER FOUND. The motive appears to have been one arising from jealousy. Miss M'lnnes was keeping company Avith lavo men, Ellis being one, and it appears that she was hesitating as to which one she ""would eventually choose. In Ellis’s coat the police found a letter addressed to him which had. been sent by the girl. It Avas couched in friendly if not loA’ing terms, and through it an appointment to meet him was made, but not for the night of the tragedy. The Love Construction Company states that Ellis Avas AA’ith their firm at Seacliff until 21st July last, and therefore, as far as is knoAvn L had been out of work for some time. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. An inquest Avas held this afternoon Avhen it Avas stated that Nurse M’lnnes Avas 25 years of age. She had been relieving at the Home since August 1 and previously had been employed at the Seacliff Mental Hospital where Ellis, Avho was 3-1 years of age and divorced from his Avife, had been employed as a bricklayer and plasterer on the construction of a neAV building. After the finding of the bodies had been described Nurse Laurent in whom the murdered Avoman had confided said that she understood that Nurse M’lnnes was undecided betAveen two men, one of whom Avas Ellis. Ellis had quarrelled with her and she had told AA'itness that at a dance at Seacliff she danced with other men and not very often with Ellis. This had made him jealous. She led Avitness to believe that she had finally rejected Ellis. She entrusted witness AA’ith a letter to Ellis about Avhieh she seemed to be worried. She was eager to get a reply and was dreading the contents. She had asked him several questions and hoped that be would answer each one. Dr. Tozer described the injuries and stated that there Avas no sign that M’lnnes had been interfered with sexually. “The facts of this sad tragedy are only too plain,” said the Coroner. “It is obvious that Nurse M’lnnes Avas murdered by Ellis aa’lio then cut his throat.” A verdict Avas returned accordingly.