FARM TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 291, 8 December 1937, Page 5

FARM TRAGEDY.

YOUTH FOUND SHOT

WOUND OVER HEART.

BODY IN SEPARATOR ROOM. DETECTIVES' INQUIRIES. With a bullet wound in the chest and a discharged pea-rifle alongside, the body of John Krnest Bedford, age.l Iti] years, was found lying on the floor of a separator room at the farm of his employer. Mr. <!. C. W. Howie, Karaka. early last evening. The farm where the tragedy occurred is about a quarter of it mile 011 the Auckland .side of the Kingseat Mental Hospital, the farmhouse being two or three chains from the road and the separator room about l.") 0 yards away from the house.

Mr. and Mr<, Howie left fur Auckland yesterday morning, leaving Mr. Kphraim Knight Howe, an uncle of Mrs. Howie, and tlie youth 15edfor<l in charge of the farm. When they returned at .">.40 p.in. they did not see the youth and noticed that he had not performed his usual duties. Mr. Howie then went to look for him, innl. on going to the separator room about (>.lO p.m.. foirtid him lying dead. There was a wound over the heart and a ."22 calibre single shot, rifle lying alongside within reach of out hand.

The youth was dressed in his usual working attire —dungaree tmu.-eiv. shirt and singlet and gum boots. ilr. Howie communicated by telephoini with the I'ukekolie police, and Sergeant M. Bradv nnd ( unstable Wakelin. accompanied bv Dr. H. Stewart Douglas of I'ukekolie. went to the* farm, arriving at 7.20 p.m.

.After preliminary inquiries hud been made at the farm. Serjeant Brady reported the matter to Chief Detective S. (i. Hall, who immediately left Auckland by car for Karaka in company with Detect ive-Sergennt .T. Walsh. Detective ( roniwell and the police photographer and finger-print expert, Mr. C. M. Francis. Detectives'.Second Visit. The body was not removed until after the detectives, who <li<l not return to Auckland until -t.'JO this morning, had completed their early investigation-! on tlie farm. Detective-Sergeant Wal<h and Detective Cromwell returned to the farm this morning. The Ihxlv was brought to the Auckland morgue tiiici morning. where a postmortem examination was carried out liy Dr. \\ a Iter (iilmour. pathologist at the Auckland Hospital. Inquiries made liy the police show that the youth was popular in tlie district. although he wih of a quiet ami retiring; disposition. He had been employed on Mr. Howie's farm for the past two years. He was in the habit of borrowing his employer's pea-rifle ami going rabbit shooting. The police state that from the surrounding circumstances there is nothing whatever to suggest that Bedford met I with foul play. I Mr. Howe, who is an elderly carpenter and who was yesterday en paired in making alteration* and additions to Mr. Howie's house, the police state last saw Bedford shortly before mid-day, and called him for lunch, but pot no reply. When the youth did not return to the farmhouse it was not thought unusual, ae he was in the habit of returning late. Inquest Opened. The inquest was opened by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.. in the Magistrate's Court this mornng. Harold Bedford, a single farm labourer employed by Mr. O. Maunsell. of Karaka, gave evidence of identification. He said his brother was 16 on May 20 last and had been employed by Mr. Howie at Karaka for the past two years. Witness' mother lived at , Stratford, his father being dead. "I last saw my brother alive about 10.30 p.m. last Sunday when he left Maun sell's after visiting us," said witness. ''He then appeared to be in his usual health. Xever at any time did be suggest taking his own life. At times 'he complained of being tired. I think bis work was worrying him and he thought of leaving his job after Christmas."

The inquest was adjourned sine die.