DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 559, 16 June 1933, Page 5

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

(Press Assn.-

INDICATIONS THAT WOMAN WAS STRUCK DOWN WITH AXE THE WEAPON FOUND

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Gisborne, Thursday. In connection with the double tragedy which was discovered yesterday afternoon when the police broke into a house in the suburb of Whatauroko and found the dead bodies of Joseph Wilson, a waterside worker, and his wife, a search of the premises revealed an axe with the blunt part of ihe head covered in blood. • Tho indications suggest that the woman had been subjeeted to a murderous attack by her husband. Apparently she had been sitting at a rewing machine when the blunt part of the axe descended on her \yith terrific force, and while unconscious the 'njury was inflicted to her throat. A trail of blood further suggested that tho man had then faced a mirror and cut his own throat with a razor. The eouple, from all accounts, were in comfortable circumstances, and the house was well furnished. The rent had been paid to the date of the tragedy, so that it is evident that financial worries were not the cause of the tragedy. It is understood that Wilson suffered from insomnia, and this, added to and attack of influenza, may have aff ected his brain. Wilson had been a well-known member of the Watersiders' Union for the past 13 years, but according to neighbours, he was of a somewhat morose disposition. He was a very tall and powerful man, while the woman was slight and of average build. The couple had resided in Gisborne for 20 years. Mrs. Wilson's parents reside in Christchurch.