DOUCET Joseph Walter (John and Helene Watson ) born June 28/1918 bapt. June 30/1918. sponsors. Denis Doucet and Mary Doucet. prst. E.P.Wallace (#76)
WALTER DOUCET AND WIFE DIE HERE SATURDAY IN WHAT IS TERMED TO BE MURDER AND SUICIDE BY THE CORONER.
Husband Evidently Beat Wife To Death With A Hammer And Stepped Before Train.
Double tragedy stalked Campbellton's east end on Saturday morning when Walter Doucet, 26, and his wife, 20, died tragically in what is termed by Coroner Dr. J. H. M. Rice and officers of the RCMP to have been a murder and suicide, with Doucet striking his wife twice over the temple with a hammer and later taking his own life by evidently throwing himself beneath the wheels of a freight just approaching the C. N. R. east yard limits.
The murder-suicide was the first incident of its sort in the history of the town and was a shock to every citizen of the community.
Mrs Doucet's death occurred at the home of her parents-in-law, and though the older couple were at home at the time they heard no sound and would that would in any way indicate violence. The dead man and his wife and infant child were upstairs at the time and, after striking his wife, Doucet is alleged to have gone downstairs and informed his parents: "I killed her. She had it coming and the police won't get the handcuffs on me."
Doucet then left the house and proceeded to the office of the J. & D. A. Harquail Company and informed an employee that he had killed his wife. He was apparently not taken seriously at once, though after he left a clerk got in touch with the police and told them Doucet did not appear quite rational. Doucet started up the track as the freight approached, and, though there was no actual eye witness, he is believed to have thrown himself under the train wheels, though not in front of the engine as the train crew had no knowledge of what had happened until they had reached, another station farther east. Parts of Doucet's body were picked up over a long stretch of track.
Coroner Rice, Chief of Police, Adams and Corporal Hugh Pettigrew, RCMP, proceeded to the scene at once after being informed and after investigating the circumstances the coroner decided an inquest would not be necessary as Doucet evidently had Killed his wife and himself as he had hinted, and as details later indicated, while of unsound mind. Coroner Rice's decision was made after contacting the Attorney-General's Department.
The young man had returned a short time previously from Montreal where he had been employed in a war-production plant, and had been rejected for military service not long ago for medical reasons. He had been away from Campbellton on jobs for the past four years according to neighbors and friends.
Mrs Doucet was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Boucher of Bathurst and her father accompanied the remains there on Sunday. The funeral of Doucet was held here on Monday morning.
Married Nov. 12/1942, in Bathurst, M.BOUCHER