SUDDEN DEATHS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1939, Page 6

SUDDEN DEATHS

YOUNG WOMAN AND MAN IN GREYMOUTH UNEXPLAINED FEATURES IN BOTH CASES. POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH. March 5. Two deaths with mysterious features occurred in Greymouth last night. Miss Alvis Williams, aged 23, headwaitress of the Royal Hotel, was found dead soon after 11.30 o’clock in her room at Mayfair Flats, Mawhera Quay, a short distance from the Royal Hotel, where the staff have sleeping quarters. An hour later, Frederick Jack Kitching, aged 26, single, a painter, who had been keeping company for years with Miss Williams, was found in a dying state at the residence of his parents, Mr and Mrs Harry Walers Kitching, Shakespeare Street, evidently from the effects of poisoning. Miss Williams, whose parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas Williams, reside in Bealey Street, Hokitika, is stated to have retired to her room at 9 p.m. in an apparently happy frame of mind after joking with other members of the hotel staff, but her subsequent movements are not known. About 11:30 p.m. another girl employed in the hotel who shared a room with Miss Williams found the door locked when going to retire and on entry being obtained Miss Williams was found in bed fully clothed. Her neck was swollen and blue but except for slight stains of blood on the nose and a few other stains there were no signs of a struggle. Dr. W. A. Bird was immediately summoned to attend to Kitching but was unable to save his life.

Detective-Sergeant Knight and Sergeant Barnes are in charge of the police inquiries. A post-mortem on ’’both victims is being held.