THE MARTON TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 18 December 1912, Page 5

THE MARTON TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. CTRQUHABfFS DOUBLE LIFE. MURDER AND SUICIDE. (By Teltrravh — Y**m Anociation.) MARTON Last Night. At tho inquest to-day on the victims of the tragedy at Marton Junction, the evidence of tho father of Urquhart showed that his son was worried, and did not sleep. The son and his wifo lived happily together t'll ho camo to-Marton. The wife had taken Court proceedings, which wore ai'terwanls quashed. The girl Gordon and he were photographed together. Thift led to the wifo applying for a separation order. The son had told him that ho had represented himself to his victim as a single man. Ho was 28 years of age. A brother of Lorna Gordon deposed that Urquhart and his sister kept company till it was discovered that he was married, when they instructed a lawyer to write to Urquhart on November 27tli, forbidding communication, or he would be prosecuted for libel contained in letters and telegrams. Dr Scott deposed that he found the man shot in. two places through the stomach and heart, tho last bullet passing through the body and coming out at the shoulder-blade. The girl was shot in three places. There was a flesh wound on the left arm about the elbow : one through the right side, coming out on tho left side, and another on the left side at the level of the heart. , Tho shots were fired at the pirl from close quarters. From the position of the bodies, ho believed, thev were sitting together when tho act was committed. John Lowrie. the girl's brother-in-law, snid he had known Urquhart for fifteen months, and ho represented himself as single. There was some talk of an engagement, and tho parents gave their consent, but wished Ui know more about him before the marriage, which he wanted at once. About a year ago Urquhart returned .tn Wellington, and the girl went there as a lady help for a month or two. She returned to /Marton on account of ill-health, but went back to Wellington and then learnt that he was married, and she returned to Marton. Urquhart tried to communicate by letter and telegram, containing threats. Lily Urquhart, wife of deceased, said she had always been on friendly terms with her husband until. Lorna Gordon came into their lives. She accused her husband of infidelity, and he promised to desist, and told the girl Gordon that he would discontinue her acquaintance, which she refused. She issued" a warrant for her husband's arrest for desertion, but'con' not prove it. They had two children —a l>oy arid a girl. She knew that her husband represented himself as single. Last weeE her husband to''' her that he would give her the shock of her life. After the Coroner had commented upon the infatuation of the man for the woman, a, verdict was returned of murder and suicide, whilst temporarily insane. In one of Urouhart's pockets■ was fourd a v-rv voluminous statement, coven'ntr ?0 sheets of paper. He made '<■ fuifce clear what he was going, to Marton fir. and ho detailed everything that had passed between him and the girl since they first met. The tragedv occurred about six r'i-lopk.