DEATH OF W. E. PRICE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 11

DEATH OF W. E. PRICE

INTERESTING EVIDENCE

THE SON'S BEHAVIOUR

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. The inquest on AValter Edwin Price, who was found dead on the floor of his bedroom, shot in the head, on sth March, was continued yesterday, before the Coroner, Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M. Proceedings aro being watched by Mr. G. I. M'Gregor on behalf of the deceased's family, and Mr. H. R. Cooper on behalf of the A.M.P., Society. Mr. J. Inncs is appearing for the deceased's brother, Georgo Price, of Thames. The Coroner hesitated to allow Mr. Innes to appear :on the ground that his brother had no greater interest than any other member of tho family, but finally allowed him to do so. . • . Dr. Cyril King, who had given in his evidence reasons for his belief that the deceased had committed suicide, was asked how John Price (the deceased's son) took the news that his father had been shot. He replied that the boy showed surprise, and as far as. he could remember said: "Shot! One surprise after another." Dr.. David Storey AVylie, honorary surgeon at the Palmerston North Hospital, stated that ho had come to the conclusion that the wound received by Prico was suicidal. .His reasons were similar to those of Dr. King. It was1 conceivablo that a particularly cunning murderer, with a high degree of technical knowledge, might produce such a wound, if the victim was unconscious. In reply to the Coroner, Dr. AVylie agreed that if a murderer had intended to simulate a suicide he would have left the gun alongside the body. Mr. MfGregor objected that there, would be a chance of identification if the gun were left. Dr. William Hunter-AVill, who assisted Dr. King at the post-mortem, agreed that, the indications pointed to suicide, but thought the wound might have been inflicted by some person unknown. "Had he been murdered I fail to see how his arm could remain in the position in which it was found," stated Dr. Ernest Barnott, another witness, who thought that Price committed suicide. Dr. Ivan Wilson said he believed the wound had been self-inflicted. To assume that death was .caused by homicide ono would have to assume that the murderer found the deceased partly, under the bed, and lay down beside him, while the latter flexed his head. That was most improbable, if not impossible. JOHN PRICE IN THE BOX. John Price, the 16-year-old son of the deceased, gave evidence. He said that on 4th March he came home from school, and his father returned from work at about 7 p.m. Ho was in very good spirits. The two of them spent the evening alone in the house. After dinner he did his homework and his father read a humorous novel in the dining-room. He left his father in the dining-room at about 9.15 p.m. and went to bed. About ten minutes after he went to bed his father came along and switched off tho water for the heater. He could not remember whether he spoke to him or not. He later heard him switching on the lights in his bedroom. He went to sleep immediately, and heard nothing further until he woke at S o 'clock next morning. There was the width of the passage and about six feet between him and his father's bed, , .: The following morning, in- walking down the passage, he glanced in his father's room and saw his body lying there. He went in and touched his foot to wake him up, but as his foot was stiff and cold he guessed he was dead, His father had been in the habit of sleeping on the floor. , Witness continued that he rang up three or four doctors. Ho could not remember who. they were. In each case a lady had answered. Two or three said they were engaged and the fourth doctor was on holiday. He then went over to Nagel's (a neighbour's) and saw Miss Nagel and told her, "My father is dead." He found Mr. Nagel, •<ind he and Mr. Brogden went to his father's house. Then they rang up and got Dr. King. AVhen the doctor came ho told witness that death was probably duo to hemorrhage from an ulcerated stomach. SOME CONVERSATIONS. In reply to Senior-Detective Quirke, the witness said that, talking to the constable who went to the home, he thought, ho said that his father was insured and his mother would bo all right. He saw a little boy, K. AVilson, and told him his father was dead; and the boy went in and told his mother. Later he saw-.him again, and told him his father was gone. "Did you mention anything to the little boy about your father being shot?"—"No, sir." "You are perfectly sure?" —"Yes." "Did you ever tell him your father was shot?" —"I can't remember that, sir." "Do you remember a conversation with Mr. Nagel in which the word "hang" was mentioned?" —"No, I don't remember the conversation." "Do you remember saying to Miss Nagel, 'I couldn't be hanged'?"— "Yes, I meant I couldn't be blamed for finding my father dead." The boy said that he and his mother was on affectionate terms with his father. His mother had been away for four days. He had known for a few months that his father was insured; and he knew that a policy - became void if the person concerned committed suicide, but he did not know how long the period was. In reply to Mr. Cooper, tho witness said that if K. AVilson said he. told him his father had been shot he would deny it. A SHOT AFTER MIDNIGHT. Edward Wilson, Palmerston North manager for Magnus Motors, stated that he and his wife returned home lato on the night of the tragedy, and saw no lights in the Price's home (next door). They were in their bedroom with Ross Mcikle having a final cigarette at about 12.50 a.m. "While talking there wo heard tho sharp report of a gun followed by a squeal like a cat mortally wounded," said witness. "Mcikle went out on to the verandah, but returned and said he couldn't hear anything, so we retired for tho night. At tea at. about 0 o'clock on the day tho body was found, continued witness, his small son had said, "The funny boy said his father shot himself." AVitness said he spoko to the deceased at about a quarter to six on the previous night, when he'seemed in the best of spirits.

After hearing corroborative evidence from Ross Meikle the inquiry was adjourned