MURDER SUSPECTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 124, 7 March 1930, Page 3

MURDER SUSPECTED

TRAGEDY AT PALMERSTON, MAN FOUND SHOT IN BEDROOM. (Special to the “Guardian.”) PALMERSTON N., -March G. Eads pointing either to murder or suicide surround the death of Walter Edwin Price, by occupation a builder, of Palmerston North, who was found dead in his bedroom at 8 o’clock on Wednesday morning. . At first it was thought that death was due to internal hemorrhage, but the post-mortem examination this morning disclosed that it was due to a gunshot wound, the weapon having probably been fired close to the head, fhe lower part of the face was covered with congealed blood, giving rise to the former hemorrhage theory. The suicide theory is complicated by the fact that the weapon cannot he found. A. rifle was discovered on the premises, hut it was old, and had not been recently used. The police decline to make a definite statement, hut tliev admit that either the murder or the suicide theory must he accepted. Inquiries confirm the fact that Price was covered by life iiisuiance policies totalling £3OOQ, said to have lieen taken out in two sums quite recently. Price, when discovered, was in pyjamas and lying on his back, partially underneath the end ol the bed. lhe body was lying on a sheet and blanket, which were blood-stained, hut no traces of blood were on the bed. The fatal wound is in the side of the chin, near tlie corner of the mouth, and ’the shot had spread upwards toward the roof of tlie skull. Tlie police believe that death was instantaneous. The only other person in the house was the youngest soy, John, a High School bov, whp slept in an adjacent bedroom, ‘hut says he did not hear tlie shot, and had no intimation of the tragedy till his discovery next morning. Price’s wife was absent in Te Kuiti on holiday, while the elder son. George, is continuing his studies at Christchurch.

Following the post-mortem examination this ’morning an inquest was opened before the Coroner, Air J. L. Stout, and after formal identification by Henry Woolles Price, of Thomas, brother of deceased, the inquiry was adjourned sine die. s Although the son heard nothing, the neighbours state they heard a sharp staccato report ten minutes before 1 a.m., accompanied by a . shrill cry, which one listener likened to the cry of an animal. These neighbours were Mr‘and Mrs Ted Wilson, and a guest, Mr Ross Mcikle, who reside next door. Price’s residence is on a corner, and is flanked on the other side by a section on which Air Price was building a residence. Air Aleikle, after hearing the shot, was unable to locate the fii'•ection of it. He opened tlie door and listened, hut hearing nothing went to bed again. Next morning the AA’ilson.s were informed by John Price that his father had died in the night of hemorrhage, hut at 4 o’clock on AVednesIny afternoon Wilson’s son informed bis father that he had heard Price had been shot.

John Price was sleeping in a room across the passage from that occupied by the father. The house had apparently not been disturbed by a search by a possible intruder. The skin around Price’s face was found to he blackened by powder, indicating that the shot was fired at comparatively close. quarters. The wad from the gun was in the room. The police state they have made a thorough search for the weapon, but without result. Price has resided at Palmerston North for some years, and has earned ■i reputation as a hard worker and. a good business man. He was of a quiet disposition, hut the neighbours found, him cheerful. The day before the tragedy lie was chatting with Mr Wilson, and lie appeared to he in normal spirits. Price did most of his own building, erecting houses and selling on completion. He was a member of a well-known New Zealand family, his brothers being members of the firm of locomotive engineers of Thames.