DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1922, Page 5

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

SUICIDE OF A MOTHER. REVELATIONS AT INQUEST. HUSBAND’S AMAZING DECEPTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. An inquest was opened to-day on the bodies of Janet Scott and her daughter, Gladys Nelson, who were found asphyxiated in a house, at Sumner on Sunday last. The owner of the house stated that he let it furnished to Scott, who represented he was a lieutenant-colonel employed in the secret service and a member of a prominent club in the city. His wife said he was the most decorated man in. New Zealand. Witness had not received any rent from Scott. The medical evidence showed that death was due to inhalation of carbon monoxide. Constable Wilkins gave evidence that the bodies partially dressed, were lying on the bed, a rubber tube from a gas bracket coining within eighteen niches of the mother. There was no appearance of a struggle. He found a certificate showing the marriage of deceased to Edward Theodore Scott at Wellington on November 11, 1921. The certificate showed that Mrs. Scott’s former husband died in 1914. SAID HE WON “TATTS.” Charles Thompson, taxi driver, said Scdtt had borrowed money from him on false representations. Scott also told witness he won £5OOO in “Tatts.” On Wednesday, January 4, Mrs. Scott called him up on the telephone, and later they had a conversation. She asked witness if he had seen her husband** She said she had had a “tiff” with him on Monday night over money matters and she had not seen him since. When witness mentioned the win in Tattersails she said that was news to her; he had got £3OO out of her.

Sub-Inspector Sampson: How do vou know that?

Witness: She told me nerself, and said she had got the money from her father. She also said she had cabled home for more money, and that she had applied at a registry office for work. That was the only occasion witness spoke to her.

Detective'Sergeant Quartermain said he had interviewed Scott, who was alleged to have obtained money by fraud in Wellington. When quertioned Scott said he was not Lieutenant-Colonel Scott and that ho was not in the Defence Department. He said he had been in the navy and had worked up to lieutenant-commander, but had been dismissed for drunkenness, but later he denied this. He said that while working as a laborer on the Klendhu station, Wairarapa, he met the woman who was now his wife. She was the© the housekeeper at the station. He said his wife handed him £361, and he had gone through it. He admitted that his correct name was William Theodore Thompson, and that he had been convicted of theft in Dunedin in 1920. SHOOK TO THE WIFE. Witness next saw Mrs. Scott, who seemed a refined woman, and told her in her husband’s presence what he had admitted. She took his news in a remarkably calm manner, but she seemed to have received a great shock. Witness 'considered the advisability of arresting Scott as a rogue and a vagabond, but decided to let him go and report the matter. He was quite satisfied that Mrs. Scott really believed her husband was Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, ana was an officer in the Defence Department. The next time witness saw her she said she did not like appealing to her people and so she would go to a labor registry to seek; a position. She subsequently informed hhn she had declined a position as ladyhelp, and that she would cable to her father. She appeared to be depressed. Her husband had not yet appeared. Witness lent her sufficient money to cable and to maintain herself until an answer could be got. She said she was the widow of a banker who died in Canada about six years ago. Witness left her about 3.30 p.m. That was the last he saw of her alive, and he concluded that she had found Scott and gone away with him. Last Monday witness received the two following cablegrams from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand in reply to a cablegram sent by Mrs. Scott: “Janet Scott, Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch: Cannot send, Ted an imposter, give him up, writing Wellington Post Office, Dad”; “Manager Bank New Zealand, Christchurch: Hand cable to Janet Scott personally, Foster.” Witness concluded by saying that Scott spent his time in hotel bars shouting for all and sundry with his wife’s money.

The coroner’s verdict was that the two deceaseds, Janet Scott and ner daughter, died on Wednesday night, January 4, of carbon monoxide gas poisoning administered by Janet Scott, who had been deserted by her husband, E. T. Scott, alias William Theodore Thompson, after, obtaining from her such money as she possessed. The police are continuing to institute inquiries as to the whereabouts of Scott, who disappeared from Christchurch on January 2.