DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1922, Page 5

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

ELTHAM SEMSATIOM. HUSBAND ATTACKS WIFE, THEN COMMITS SUICIDE. THE WIFE’S DEATH. A shocking double tragedy occurred on a farm on the Fraser Road, near Eltham, yesterday morning, the circumstances pointing to a man named William Percival Owen attempting to murder his wife, and after inflicting shocking injuries with a meat chopper, committing suicide by shooting himself with a shotgun. The victim of the assault, Mrs. Gladys Owen, who was a daughter of Mr. G. W. Tayler (Mayor of Eltham), died last night.

(From Our Special Reporter.) Eltham, Last Night. The tragedy on the Fraser Road occurred early this morning, and from what can be gathered from the police and a man who was employed by Owen the case seems to be the act of a man who had suddenly become a raving madman. No motive whatever can be found for the assault or suicide.

The man who was employed by Owen, Charles Herbert Watson, told the police that he roge at about 4.40 a.m. and found Owen, in whose manner he saw nothing unusual, engaged in lighting the kitchen fire. After partaking of something to eat and drink Watson milked the cows and took the milk to the factory, returning at about 7.10.

He thought it strange that no breakfast had been prepared, and on making an investigation found Owen, in his night attire, lying on the floor of a room adjoining in a pool of blood and a shotgun by his side.

On further examination he found Mrs. Owen, also in night attire, lying in the hall with three gashes on her head, and partially conscious. He carried her to the front. bedroom and then communicated with the police. TERRIBLE INJURIES. Constable Anderson, who is relieving Constable Townsend at Eltham,. received a call to Fraser Road at about 7.30. and proceeded there immediately, accompanied by Dr. H. A. Cooper. Owen was found lying in a bedroom adjoining the kitchen with his head in a pool of blood. A single barrel . shotgun was lying by his side. A cord was tie{l to the trigger, passed under the right foot, and grasped in the dead man’s right hand. Deceased had apparently placed the muzzle of the gun in his mouth and fired it off by means of the cord. Death must have been instantaneous. The man’s face was not greatly disfigured, but the skull at the back of the head was shattered. There was a pool of blood in the hall where Watson had found Mrs. Owen, who was on the bed in the front bedroom in an unconscious condition. There were three big gashes on her head, and they appear to have been caused by blows from a sharp instrument. A great quantity of blood had flowed from the wounds. A meat chopper, covered with blood, was found in another bedroom, In which the bedclothes and walls were splashed with blood. It appeared that Owen had attacked his wife in this room with the meat chopper, and after a struggle she had made her/way to the hall, where she collapsed. When found by Watson Mrs. Owen, was partially conscious and spoke to him. and ■she was also partially conscious when taken to the hospital, but unable to make any statement or to answer questions. “I AM MAD.” On the table in the kitchen was found a note in Owen’s handwriting. It was not addressed to anybody, 'and stated:— “Murder and suicide, that is it. I am mad, and don’t want to leave Glad to face things alone, so I am sending her to Minnie and George. She will be happy there, just as we were happy here. I am sorry for you all, anil no one is to blame, bar myself. Sell out and live in town, and be kind to each other. Your poor old Bill.”

Deceased had written on another scrap of paper: ‘SRing for Townsend and the doctor.”

It is explained that the Minnie and George referred to in the note were relations of Mrs. Owen*';, who are dead. The inquest on the body of Owen was opened this afternoon before the coroner (Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M.). Sergeant Henry appeared for the police.

Charles H. Watson stated that he was employed by Owen. After giving details as 'to what had happened that morning prior to his return, he stated that on seeing that no breakfast had been prepared he investigated and saw Owen lying in a room off-the' kitchen. He called out for Mrs. Owen and got no response. On investigation he found her lying in the hall, asked her what was the matter, and she replied, “Noth.* ing.” He then asked her where Owen was. and she answered that she did not know and asked him if witness knew where he was. The witness did not remember what reply he made, but after making Mrs. Owen as comfortable as possible ho communicated with the police and with the doctor. After Watson's evidence had been taken the inquest was adjourned sine die, WELL-KNOWN SETTLERS. News of the tragedy was a terrible shock, as both Mr. and Mrs. Owen were well known and greatly respected throughout the district. They had been married only six months. Mrs. Owen was a pupil of the Eltham school, and was particularly well known and liked in the town. For some time prior to her marriage she was a nurse in the Wellington Hospital. Mr. Owen, who was about 33 years of age, was a son of Mr. T. W. Owen, a retired farmer, residing at Hawera, and formerly of Fraser Road and Otakeho. He was a returned soldier, and it is stated that he served in Egypt with the 38th Reinforcements. It is stated that he had, for some time past, suffered from i insomnia, and that his nerves were in I a very bad state. Friends who met the couple in Eltham recently, have stated that they noticed something peculiar in Owen’s manner.

Mrs. Owen underwent an operation this morning, ami she died this evenin* I