FARM TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 148, 25 June 1935, Page 9

FARM TRAGEDY.

INQUEST OPENED.

EVIDENCE OF MOTHER.

RECENT DIVORCE PETITION.

Two witnesses only were heard by the coroner, Mr. F. 11. Levien, S.M., at Otalmhu yesterday afternoon at the inquest into the death of Peter Hobson, tlio young man who fired two shots at }iis father on an East Taniaki farm on Sunday morning and who then committed" suicide. The inquiry was adjourned until July 1.

„ The mother of the dead youth, Gladys Alice Hobson, said lier son, who was 18 years of age on May 20 last, was employed by a- High Street electrician. The fact that she had lost a recent divorce petition had preyed on the boy's mind. He had been worried because lie had not been allowed to give evidence. Otherwise he was a very happy boy and had been in perfect health. An employee of Mr. Hobson, William James Noel Mullins, said that about a month ago his employer had instructed him that should his wife or children visit the farm, he was not to allow tlieni to enter the house in his absence. He gathered from liis employer's conversation that he considered that hi 3 wife had treated him unfairly. "About 11.30 yestei*ilay morning I ■was awakened by my brother, who told me that young Hobson had just entered the front room of the house," continued witness. "I dressed hastily and entered tho room. The French window was open, and behind the door 1 saw the youth standing with a rifle in his hands, ike pointed the gun at nje and I dodged back into the passage. He did not speak." "Saw Son Aiming Rifle." "Later I returned and found that young Hobson had disappeared," said Mullins. "We searched about the farm hut could not find the youth. My brother and Mr. Hobson got into the farm truck and started off down the road with Mr. Hobson driving. When the truck was about 90 yards from the house I heard the discharge of a rifle. The truck stopped and I saw Mr. Hobson leave the driver's seat and walk towards the rear of the vehicle. I looked over the paddock towards the west, and saw young Hobson about 60 yards from the truck. "He was kneeling and aiming the rifle at Mr. Hobson.

"Simultaneously with the discharge of a rifle I saw Mr. Hobson fall. The youth then disappeared down an incline." Witness told how he helped Mr. Hobson into the van and took him to Papatoetoe.