BODY ON ROADSIDE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 11

BODY ON ROADSIDE

Apparent Heart Failure

While Shooting

LORRY DRIVER’S DISCOVERY

By Telegraph—Press Association

Dargaville, June 19.

About 8.30 this morning, W. Lawlor, driver of a cream lorry, when proceeding along the Girls' High School road at Omana. near Dargaville, discovered the body of Wilfred Headley Keene, aged 20, single, son of Mr. Headley R. Keene, lying on the side of the highway.

From details to hand it appears that Mr. Keene, who was employed by F. F. Legarth, butcher, of Omana, left on his rounds at 7 o’clock. When Lawlor made his discovery there was a doublebarrelled shotgun lying alongside the body with two undischarged cartridges in the breech. About five yards further along the road two empty cartridge cases were found. It would seem that the deceased while driving his delivery van along the road noticed a bird and got out and fired, two shots, and that he was in the act of reloading the gun when he expired, presumably from heart failure An inquest will be held. Mr. Keene was a member of the Northern Star junior Rugby team and played last Saturday. Before the body was removed it was examined by Dr. H. G. Rix, the district coroner (Mr. J. A. McLean), and Constable F. Newland.