WASHBOURNE INQUEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 282, 18 February 1928, Page 9

WASHBOURNE INQUEST

SECOND VICTIM’S SUICIDE DEATH BY DROWNING Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. An inquest was held to-day into the death of the second victim of the Selwyn tragedy, Mrs. Florence Annie Washbourne, wife of William Henry Washbourne, of Selwyn, who committed suicide on Monday night after attempting to shoot his wife. Evidence was given that Mrs. Washbourne was 26 years of age and had four children, the eldest being seven years of age and the youngest seven months. Washbourne and his wife had

lived apart under an agreement but about two weeks ago the latter returned home. It was stated the husband had been worried because of his wife’s conduct. After Washbourne’s body was found on Tuesday morning Mrs. Washbourne knelt beside it weeping and repeating, “Oh, why did you miss me.” She was interviewed by a policeman, to whom she admitted that her conduct was the cause of the trouble with her husband. She did not, however, give any indication of intention to commit suicide. In the afternoon after her husband’s suicide Mrs. Washbourne disappeared. Her body was found in a dam. It was clear from evidence that the woman could not have got into the dam by accident. The verdict returned was suicide by drowning.