Gassed While Asleep

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 52, 24 May 1927, Page 3

Gassed While Asleep

OLD COUPLE’S FATE STOVE TAP LEFT ON Press Association. WELLINGTON, Monday. T No - 9 Waipapa Road, Hataltai, this morning, Joseph Samuel Lucas, aged 76, was found dead in bed and Alice Annie Lucas, aged 76, was alongside him unconscious and in a critical condition, the result of gas-poisoning. Suspicion was aruosed among the neighbours by the inactivity in the house through all Sunday, and this morning a daughter of the victims was summoned, and she obtained entrance by breaking a window, all the doors being locked. There were strong fumes of gas when she got to the old couple’s bedroom, where the grim tragedy was before her. There is no suggestion of suicide, but it is assumed that when the old couple went to bed on Saturday night, they accidentally left a gas-stove tap on, and were overcome in their sleep. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas were retired farmers from Marlborough and were highly respected by residents roundabout Hataitai suburb. They were very devoted to each other. The wife had been slightly indisposed, hut the husband was hale and hearty, and had attended a football match on Saturday.

Mr. Lucas was born in Nelson 76 years ago. He was a son of Charles Lucas who arrived in the Olympus. He came to Wairau about 1859 and engaged in farm work. He owned Opawa farm at Dillon’s Point. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas celebrated their golden wedding a couple of months ago. The wife was formerly Miss Alice Parkin, of Cheviot.