THE PERRY MURDER

Evening Star, Issue 15928, 7 October 1915, Page 8

THE PERRY MURDER

' THE INQUEST; ' - [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 6. The adjourned inquest surrounding the death of John Thomas Perry, a farmer, aged 45 years, who was shot dead while in bed, was continued. , William Francis Ginnivan, farmer, said he was wakened, on hearing a woman calling out: “Come quick, come quick, Tom’s dead.” He told Mrs Perry to send for Mr Pilkington. Witness called for Mr Cox (the Presbyterian inissioner), and they found the mother and some of the children waiting for them in a paddock at the eastern end of the house. . The moon was shining brightly. Witness found deceased lying on his right aide on the side of the bed nearest to the window. His head was shot away above the temple. Witness remarked: “He’s shot.” Mrs Perry said: “Yes.” Witness added: “But I don’t see any firearms.” Mrs Perry replied; “He was shot through the window.” When he entered the room Mrs Perry said: “There he is, dead; do the best you can.” In reply to his inquiry as to whether there were any firearms in the house, Mrs Perry said; “ There’s only a gun in the dairy, and that has not been used since Thursday.” She either added that there were two cartridges left or that the last two had been fired on the Thursday. Witness did not think that injuries of so severe a nature could be caused by a gun fired through tho window. Witness said that the line of the window was too low for a shot to have entered deceased’s head where it did. Witness related the circumstances of a will which he and Mr Pilkington witnessed when the deceased was poisoned in April. On arriving at the. house in response to a call they found Mr Perry lying on the floor suffering from the effects of poisoning. He said he wanted the property left to the four eldest boys. Mrs Perry asked him what Leonard (the youngest boy) had done to be left out of the will, whereon Mr Perry said; “ All right, put him in.” On the suggestion of witness Mrs Perry was given a life interest, with the proviso that after her death the five sons should divide the property equally. Mr Perry was too ill to write, but he signed the will by mark. Witness said Mrs Perry was very much distressed before the doctor reached the house, but afterwards she calmed down. On the occasion of the poisoning Mrs Perry seemed to be concerned about her husband. She did not complain before provision was made for her in the will, but onlv when the boy Leonard was left out.

George Frederick Cox (Presbyterian inissioner) gave evidence as to accompanying the previous witness to Perry’s house after the death of the father. He said Mrs Perry was greatly distressed. Dr Brookfield described the deceased's injuries. He was of opinion that the shot was fired close to the deceased's head. He did not think it could have been fired through the window with the same results. In describing the deceased’s illness in April witness said it was possible that the cause of illness was tetanus.

Dr Milson said he was of opinion that the wound was not caused by the gun being fired from outside the window. It was probably fired close to the head. It was possible for tho wound to be selfinflicted, but this was very unusual. The inquest was adjourned.