EXHUMED BODY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 15

EXHUMED BODY

VERDICT AT INQUEST

CORONER'S STRONG

COMMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, This Day. ' A verdict that death was due to natural causes, precipitated to some extent by a fight he liad earlier~in the day with Walter Thorpe, was/eturned by the Coroner (Mr. A. E. Benjamin) at Hokitika when inquest proceedings were concluded on the body of Richard Kennedy, aged 65, a reuirned soldier, who died at Karangarua, South Westland, on November 6. Some time after Kennedy's death rumours were circulated Jn the district that he was involved in a fight. Subsequently the Minister of Health issued a warrant for the exhumation of the body, and this was done at Karangarua on January 8. A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr. W. A. Bird and Dr. W. McKay, Greymouth, revealed no injury to which death could be attributable and the doctors came. to. the conclusion that death was due to natural causes, namely, heart disease. At the hearing today evidence was given by Frederick Gill and Thorpe, both of- whom said that at Gill's suggestion Thorpe kept out of the. way and gave no information j>£ the fight to the constable and the doctor investigating Kennedy's death. Later Thorpe, at Gjll's request, signed a statement that Gill was not present at the fight. Inspector H. Scott (to .Gill); What was your object in 'obtaining a statement? " ■"■'" -■•■•■• .; Gill: So- that I would not toe connected witfe t&e fight. "' ' . ... Inspector Scott: Yflu were taking a good deal of interest up till then.—l was not interested in shielding anyone. The Coroner: You recognise that when you told the constable and the doctor what you did you lied?—At the time it didn't appear so. Sharply criticising Gill and Thorpe, the Coroner expressed distinct disappointment at their-action in endeavouring by collusion to hush up the true facts of the case. Gill deliberately lied to the police and to the doctor in an endeavour to prevei.t news of the fight leaking out, while Thorpe's actipn in agreeing to this course was equally to be condemned. As a result of their action the course of justice might have been interfered with, while heavy cost had been entailed by subsequent investigations. ■ '' ■■'..' : "The fact that the medical evidence clears Thorpe from being the cause of Kennedy's death in no way frees either from condemnation," said the Coroner, who added that he would recommend that only travelling allowances be paid to Thorpe and. Gill.