FINDING AT INQUEST INTO FARMER’S DEATH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 14

FINDING AT INQUEST INTO FARMER’S DEATH

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, July 4.

The Coroner (Mr C. G. G. Sinclair) at the inquest at Qtautau today into the death of James Noel McGregor, sheep farmer, said there was insufficient evidence for him to find whether the wouno that caused McGregor’s death was accidental or self-caused. The Coroner found that the cause of death was a bullet wound in the brain.

McGregor’s body was found in front of the homestead at Mount Linton Station, Ohai, at 9.15 p.m on May 5. There was a rifle lying beside it.

Mr J. R. Mills, for the widow and family, submitted that on the evidence it was abundantly clear that death was accidental. Mrs Leslie Eileen McGregor said that on May 5 she, her husband and her son, Alister, had their evening meal together. Her husband left the table before the meal was finished, but this was not unusual.

About 9 p.m., she had become worried about her husband’s absence and had gone to look for him. She found him lying near a Idw stone wall, near the house. He appeared to be dead. There was a rifle lying near the body. Mrs McGregor said a number of opossums had been climbing about the creepers near the house. A night or two before her husband’s death they were disturbed by an opossum. Her husband took a rifle and went outside to shoot it.

Mrs McGregor said it was quite possible that on the night of his death her husband had taken the rifle with the intention of shooting opossums or a weasel whch had also been seen near the house Her husband had not appeared to be worried. “I have no reason to think my husband took his own life.” said witness.

Questioned by the Coroner, Mrs McGregor said her husband did not suffer from mental depressions or nerves. Sometimes, he was preoccupied about his work and the property. To the Coroner. Mrs McGregor said her husband at no time had threatened to take his own life. Graham Denis Nullally, who was employed at “Mount Linton” said he knew of no reason why McGregor should have taken his own life. Witness said he knew of no ill-feeling between him and any member of his family, or anybody on the station. Medical evidence was given that the bullet had entered below the lower jaw and had emerged in the forehead. Death was due to injury to the brain. Questioned by the Coroner, Dr Neil Prentice said that to cause such a bullet track the rifle, in his opinion, must have been held tightly against the body. Cross-examined by Mr Mills. Dr. Prentice said that In his experience he had found that with a self-inflicted wound the entrance

of the bullet was almost always at the temple so that the bullet would travel across and through the brain. In his opinion, it was likely the course of the bullet in this case would be more consistent with the accidental discharge of a rifle. There may have been a fall causing the rifle to discharge Sergeant Walter Kevin Egan said there had been a most thorough investigation of the tragedy by the Criminal Investgation Branch. It was perfectly clear McGregor had no financial worries. On the day of his death he had attended a local body meeting and had later discussed with a stock firm representative the future development of his property.