SUICIDE PACT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1939, Page 8

SUICIDE PACT

ALLEGED IN AUCKLAND MAN & WOMAN BEFORE COURT. KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST SHOWN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. This Day. The principals in what has come to be known as the Station Hotel mystery, Francis Leonard Laurie, storeman, 39, of Belmont, and his nextdoor neighbour. Mrs Josephine Norton Laycock, 34. appeared in the Police Court today before Mr F. H. Levien S.M. Laurie was charged "that on November 6 he attempted to murder Josephine Laycock," and secondly that "on November 5 he aided and abetted Beatrice Florence Rita Laurie to commit suicide." This second charge against Laurie was preferred for the first time today.

The charge against Mrs Laycock read: "That on November 6 she aided and abetted Francis Leonard Laurie in the commission of the crime of attempting to murder the said Josephine Norton Laycock.” Mr Trevor Henry appeared for Laurie and Mi R. S. Burt for Mrs Laycock.

Detective-Sergeant Walsh, who has had charge of the investigations from the beginning, conducted the prosecution.

Laurie was found with Mrs Laycock, both with their wrists cut. in an' hotel bedroom on November 6. Both were admitted to the Auckland Hospital, where they remained for some lime. Laurie was arrested on his discharge from the- hospital on November 12 and Mrs Laycock some days later. A sensation was added to the discovery of the two injured persons when police investigation revealed, later in the morning of November 6, that Laurie’s wife had been found in circumstances that led to the belief that she had committed suicide. She was found dead lying near an open gas oven in the kitchen of iter home, ali the jets being turned on. Intense public ir teresl was shown in the case today, it being noticeable that a great proportion of the onlookers were women. Before tile evidence was heard, Detective-Sergeant Walsh, referring to the charge against Mrs Laycock, said it was really a charge of aiding and abetting in an attempt on her life. "The evidence which will be led will disclose a suicide pact between the. two accused," he said. "Of, course Mrs Laycock is not charged with aiding and abetting the suicide of the wife of the male accused." It was agreed that the cases against the two accused should be taken together. (Proceeding.)