DEATH OF MAN AND WOMAN

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24444, 19 December 1944, Page 2

DEATH OF MAN AND WOMAN

^ — BLACKMOUNT STATION TRAGEDY

INQUEST CONCLUDED

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Dec. 18. The inquest Into the deaths of Cecilia Rodger Turnbull and Barckley Mouat, at Blackmount Station on December 10, was concluded at Otautau to-day, before the Coroner. Mr R. C. Abernethy. ' Dr. W. B. Reekie, of Otautau. said he was called to go to Blackmount and arrived there at 2.50 p.m. In the front slttingroom he found Cecilia Turnbull lying on the floor. A bullet had entered her left cheek an Inch below the eye. She did not regain consciousness and died from’ this wound. Witness examined the dead body of Mouat. Thefe was a bullet wound in the middle of his forehead. He died from a brain Injury. "In both cases powder marks showed that the weapon had been held close to the skin, in my opinion within two inches," said witn<Cyril Thomas Sherriff, a sawmiller of Tuatapere, said he had known Mouat all his life. Mouat went overseas early in 1840, and returned in July last year. He Was always of a quiet disposition and was more so since his return. "On December 10, witness added, "he asked me to take him to Blackmount in my car, and 1 agreed. When we were leaving, about 9.30' a.m., Mouat threw a rucksack in the car. I did not see the rifle at any time. When we arrived at the station he took the rucksack and left it at a fence near the house. We were invited in for a cup of tea. Cecilia came in. Mouat grinned at her and shook hands. She asked him to go to see her father, who was ill in bed. When witness was leaving to go home, Mouat picked up the rucksack and walked towards the house.” At no time had Mouat given any indication that he was going to do anything rash. ' . . Constable Skipworth said that when he got to Blackmount he saw the bodies lying on the floor. He found a .22 rifle Ivfnff near the left side of Mouat s body. There were three bullets in the magazine and a spent shell in the rifle. Anot *?® r spent shell was found on the floor. The rifle was registered in' Mount's name, and was in excellent mechanical condition. On the evening of December 9, Cecilia Tflrnbull told him she was going to break off her engagement to Mouat because of his association with another woman, said witness. Subsequently she saw Mouat, and on her .return said she had not broken off the engagement. In reply to a question, witness said If the rifle was broken down it could be carried in a rucksack without being seen. “This is a tragedy where apparently onlv two people knew the full facts, and these facts they have taken to the grave with them," said the Coroner. That being so, it Is hardly competent for anybody to do more than guess at the facts and* probably the least said the better. From the evidence, and from an early. Inspection of the scene of the tragedy. I am satisfied that Cecilia Turnbull received her wound, and I am satisfied that she died at Blackmount Station on December 10, the cause of death being a wound in the head caused by a bullet from a rifle fired by Barckley Mouat. I am also satisfied that Mouat djed in the same place, the cause of death being a bullet wound, in the head, self-inflicted. Some reasons for the shooting, the Coroner continued, "appear from the evidence, but further than those bare facts I don’t think it is competent for me to go.”