A SOLDIER'S TRAGEDY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 39, 16 February 1916, Page 3

A SOLDIER'S TRAGEDY.

The Isle of Wight coroner held an inquest at Brading on the hodies of Joseph Davies, gunner, R.G.A., land Mary Davies, his wife. The gunner and his wife were found shot dead in their house, at Linden Terrace, Brading, by their little seven-year-old daughter on her return from school. A child of three was in the house when the tragedy occurred. The eyi- . dence showed that the wife must have been shot by her husband ,and the lat. Her then killed himself after two attemps with a service rifle. In the left breast pocket of his coat i was an envelope containing the following message:—"My dear, loving wife. —This is the last farewell, my darling. God bless you and keep you ' and my children from all harm —From your dear old brokenhearted Joe. I f > cannot be'ar it any longer."

A neighbour, Mrs. Watherick, said she heai-d a succession of bangs just after nine, and it was all silent afterwards. She also heard the youngest child cry out, "Don't, daddy! Don't daddy!" The jury found that Davies murdered his wife and then committed suicide, being at the time temporarily insane.