A TRAGEDY PLANNED.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1921, Page 4

A TRAGEDY PLANNED.

HUSBAND’S WRATH WITH WIFE. LETTER TO THE CORONER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The inquest opened to-day before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on the victims—Edward Foreman and Jean Foreman, his wife of the Abel Smith Street tragedy on Tuesday afternoon, when the bodies of a man and his wife were found in a garden of a vacant house, the circumstances pointing to murder and suicide. Evidence was given by Elsie Marion Bews, sister of Mrs. Foreman. She said she and her sister came to New Zealand eleven months ago. They had no friends or relatives in the Dominion, and they worked in hotels. They then made the acquaintance of men like Foreman and Anderson (a man undergoing a term of imprisonment). Foreman was intensely jealous of his wife, without cause. She said he made allegations of misconduct, which led to their separation. After that he haunted his wife, meeting her going to and coming from work, and he shadowed her at night. The witness was not surprised at anything that had happened, as she thought Foreman was mad. Mr. Hunt, S.M.: How came you and your sister to meet and associate with criminals? She met Foreman and you Anderson. Witness: W'e were working in hotels and we came across that class of man. We did not know they were criminals. They were all 4 right to us. Mr. Hunt: You had nobody to look after you, and they were very plausible scoundrels. Sergeant Cox: Yes, sir, they were in deed. Mr. Hunt (to witness): It just showr how .careful you must be in making acquaintances. Witness: We came out from the Ok Country together and we had no friends and nobody to look after us. We wantec to travel. Mr. Hunt: Foreman writes that he explained his past to your sister. Witness: I knew he had been in prison, but I did not know he was a criminal. The magistrate (Mr. Hunt) put in s letter addressed to him by Foreman, making allegations against his wife of misconduct with two men, and giving the reasons for taking drastic steps. The letter said: “I married her full of hope and flushed with happiness. I lived on day after day in hopes of her returning. All is a blank, and there is nothing to live for; no interest in life; and my castle has fallen. The future is—what? Work, eat, sleep; a life of endless misery; and then die. Mr. Hunt, —This is not a case of insanity, or even temporary insanity, for I am as calm to-day as at any time in my life. I have told my wife, but all I get is sarcasm. I shajl make one final appeal.” The appeal was made on Sunday moaning and failed. Foreman wrote a postscript on Monday night, saying he told his wife her life was forfeited and she would be sorry too late. The inquest was adjourned till Monday.