A FOURFOLD TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1921, Page 5

A FOURFOLD TRAGEDY.

FAMILY COMMITS SUICIDE. OWING TO DECREASED INCOME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. London, Nov. 1. Poisoned champagne is believed to have been the cause of a fourfold tragedy in the most fashionable quarter of Streatham. The bodies of Ernest Coates (engineer), his wife, the latter’s married daughter (Mrs. Townsend), and her son, Henry Marni, by a previous marriage, were found locked in a maisonette. The police are trying to solve the mystery of by whom the poison was administered. Coates wrote three letters, including one to the Coroner, which led the police to forcing an entry. A maid employed by Coates states that she was sent away for the week-end. Neighbors state that deceased were of eccentric habits and lived secluded lives. FURTHER DETAILS. Received Nov. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 1. In connection with tbe Streatham tragedy, apparently the father, mother and a grown daughter and son, who were living happily, agreed to commit suicide, owing to money troubles, due to a decrease of income since the armistice. The father was a prosperous engineer, the mother was a Spanish woman, who was once nurse to King Alfonso, and their daughter had been an actress. The family never drank wine, but purchased some champagne specially on Saturday. The poison used was cyanide of potassium.