HOLE IN SKULL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 9

HOLE IN SKULL.

FIRE TRAGEDY VICTIM.

«NOT SELF INFLICTED."

JUDICAL EXPERT'S OPINION.

HIJIATANGI INQUEST RESUMED.

/gy Telegraph. —Press Association.)

FOXTON, this day,

The inquest into one of the most mysterious tragedies in the history of the Dominion was resumed to-day, when the district coroner. Mr. Fraser, investigated the circumstances of the death of eight persons in a lonely farmhouse at Hhnatangi, eight miles from Foxton, on the night of Friday, September 6-7." The eight who it is believed werb burned to death when the farmhouse was destroyed were: John Brown Westlake 07 vcars, farmer, of Pahiatua; Thoina°s Wright, aged 47/ years, shareSer: Mrs? Hilda G. Wright, aged about 35 Years; the four Wright chaldron: Jovce, aged 11; Bryan, aged 8; 4nnie aVed <>, and Prudence, aged three month's; C and Samuel Hewitt Thomson, 23 years, farm employee. "Detective Sergeant Quirke conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police, and Mr. 0. C. Petersen appeared for the Wright family. Hole in Base of Skull. Dr." Cyril A. King said he examined broken portions of the cranium bones, which had been subjected to intense heat, and he reconstructed the greater part'of the vault of a human cranium, disclosing a hole in the base about half ah inch in diameter. The skull was that of an adult male. It had been found near Wright's bedroom. The edges of the hole "were bevelled, and the'" inner aspect exceeded the outer. The hole was stained yellow, and minute pieces of lead attached to the bone surface.. In the hollow of the top piece was an irregular piece of lead, also stained yellow. The lead was a grape-like cluster, • pressed together by heat. The hole was probably caused by"a gunshot wound. • '.It would be impossible for a gunshot wound to have been self-inflicted, as the individual who received the shot nrjjst have been in a lying or stooping positron. If, the wound was inflicted by gunshot it must have been fired at blank range. No Other Evidence of Violence. Witness said he made a post-mortem examination of the remains of the victims. He found various calcined hones, undoubtedly human, and corresponding in size and development, with those-of young children, and the actual number of children was accounted for. He found, no actual evidence of violence. The body in the living room was the best preserved, and was that of a tall man. It consisted of a fairly complete tjunk, and part of a head, the features being charred beyond recognition. The back part of the skull was missing. There were no teeth in either jawbone. It was impossible to distinguish any fijsaM injuries. From the. description supplied him, the body was that of John Brown Westlake. He also described the remains of a child found near the cot, and those of Mrs. Wright. The other remains were those of an adult male. The remains discovered were those of four children and three adults.