"I KNOW NO MORE"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 7

"I KNOW NO MORE"

BOY WITNESS FIRM. PRICE INQUEST RESUMED. HAD DEAD MAN QUARRELLED WITH WIEF ? CORONER'S COMMENT ON LETTER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) PALMERSTON N., tills day. The inquiry was continued this morning before the coroner, Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., into the circumstances surrounding the death of Walter Edwin Price, a builder, who was found dead in a bedroom at his home in Featherston Street with a gunshot wound near his mouth from a gun which was not found. Detective Russell said extensive inquiries had failed to reveal anyone who bore enmity to deceased or was likely to do him harm. The witness said that Dr. Laurenson, of Matamata, had been interviewed by the police. He had stated that he attended deceased following a motor accident in January, 1929. Subsequently Price appeared to be suffering from I spinal neurasthenia. This was likely to produce fits of depression, from which Price did suffer. It was not improbable that he might take his life under such I circumstances. Detective Russell produced a similar statement as to injuries from Dr. Putnam, who, however, said he had observed no marked signs of depression in April, 1929. Following an examination of witness by Mr. McGregor, solicitor for the Price family, concerning a missing sum of money, which was stated to bo in the house, the coroner said there was no evidence that the money was ever in the house. "It is of no use suggesting homicide," said the coroner. "The only person who can tell anything is Price, and you will hardly get anything from him." Senior Detective Quirke said all inquiries had failed to reveal the gun. John Price Recalled. John Price, chief witness, a son of deceased and the central figure in the proceedings, was then recalled with the intimation that questions would subsequently be Senior Detective Quirke handed to witness for private perusal three letters in his father's handwriting. The Coroner (to Jolux Price): You have read those letters. Would you like them to be read out in Court, as we will be forced to do? John Price: No, sir. The Coroner: Perhaps you would like to think over the matter and see if you cannot tell us anything more. This matter can be cleared up another way. Is it necessary for me to make these letters public? There is a certain amount of suspicion that you know more than you have told us. That is my own impression so far. John Price: Sir, I know* no more. I do not know what was in those letters. The Coroner : Did you know that there had been any quarrel between your father and your mother? John Price: No, sir. The coroner suggested again that the witness might think the matter over, otherwise there would be no alternative to the calline of his mother, who, he understood, was not in a fit condition to give evidence, being in a state of collapse. Mr. McGregor: She can only whisper. The Coroner: We don't want her to collapse in Court. Mr. McGregor: She is anxious to give evidence. No Further Questions. The Coroner: Apparently it is no good asking this boy anything further at present. The only thing is to adjourn apuin. There is a reference to a gun IB' one of those letters. This is evidently going to be a painful business for Mrs. Price. We shall have to adjourn this until after the Supreme Court session. Mr. McGregor suggested that proceedings be adjourned sine die. Addressing John Price, the coroner said: "The position is that I will have to call your mother and also recall you afterwards. Perhaps you will think over this matter. Any further light which you may throw on this matter may save your mother from going through this ordeal. I cannot close the inquest at this stage. As the Suggestion of homicide came from you and your mother, it will have to be cleared up." The inquest was then adjourned sine die.