DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
FATHER AMD LITTLE ROY DIE BY GAR POISONING.
Auckland, January 24. Demented hv the thought of a ponding divorce, George Davies Dannford, aged 2d, a naval rating, living in Kiwi Road, Devonport, last night killed hlhnself hv gas poisoning and took his only child, Dennis, aged Hiree, to death with him* Stifling gas fumes Idled the house when the police forced their way through the front door, which was stronglv barricaded with furniture, about one o'clock this morning. In the 'kitchen Dana ford was found with his head in the oven. About' three feet away, surrounded by toys with which he had been playing when the gas fumes overcame him, lay the child, face downwards. Notes scrawled on pages of a school book, stating that he intended to kill himself and take the child with him,-were left by Dann - ford. Messages were also left on the “joker” and the three of hearts from a pack of playing cards. The evidence points to Danaford’s mind being deranged.
Dinting recent mouths, M)n tin ford and his wife had been separated at intervals, and about three weeks ago the wife went to live with a neighbour, .Bolton. Last night Dnnaford called for the child, saving he would take him to the pie hires. When, at 10.45, Dannford had not returned with the child, Bolton went to Dnnafovd’s house, and, getting no response to his knocks, called the police, who forced their way into the house and found Dannford and the child as previously staled. Dannford had died some hours before the child had.
Airs. Dannford had objected to parties of shipmates being brought to the house, and Dannford had made threats to Bolton against the wife and child.
A neighbour .stilted that, a few days ago, when the wife told tier husband that, she intended telling the commander of the Philomel that Dana ford was not treating her properly and that they were going to seek a divorce, the husband had exclaimed, “Tf you do that, there will be murder.” In notes left bv Danaford, he more than once contradicted himself. Visions of the after-life* were expressed in language that could hardly he understood. On one card was scrawled, “Your death sign. Mrs. Danaford.”
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Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4406, 25 January 1930, Page 2
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373DOUBLE TRAGEDY. Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4406, 25 January 1930, Page 2
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