FAMILY INCINERATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1936, Page 7

FAMILY INCINERATED

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

[per press association.]

OAMARU, May 30.

An inquest into the Maerewhenua tragedv on February 26, when Arthur Douglas Nolan, Thelma Mabel Nolan, Lindon Patrick Nolan, and Anthony Francis Nolan were found incinerated in a burnt house, was held yesterday, at Oamaru. Dr. Fitzgerald described the positions of the bodies when found. In front of the bedroom were the charred remains of a man's body, on a wire mattress, and those of a female adult on the ground. In the other room were the remains of two children. In witness’s opinion the man’s death was caused by an injury to Wie heart, consistent with a bullet wound. A postmortem examination on the bodies of the children indicated wounds consistent with bullet wounds. The woman’s i body was too badly incinerated to indicate the cause of death. Charles Douglas Adams, a farmer, gave evidence of noticing the fire. He arrived too late to enter the house. Nolan was an agreeable man, and got on well with his wife. Several witnesses testified to the good relations of the couple. James Joseph Hore, father of Mrs. Nolan, said that his daughter had not been too well. If she was responsible for the tragedy, her brain must have snapped during the night. He was sure that it was not premeditated. William Brash Hutchison said that Nolan was a very decent type of man, and a cheery worker.

George Roland Hore said that his sister appeared to be worrying about the baby’s health, when he saw her six weeks before the tragedy. Elizabeth Alison Hore said that Mrs. Nolan had been run down in health.

William Arthur James Hore said that his sister suffered from nerves, and he thought that this got the better of her. and that she destroyed her husband, children, and self. If so, witness was sure that the action was unpremeditated. Other witnesses said that Mrs. Nolan had not been well, and had worired about the children’s health. Detective Ernest Thomas gave evidence that investigations failed to reveal the cause of death. The Nolans were very popular, and had not a single enemy. Sergeant McGregor said that when the bodies were found, the barrel of a repeating rifle was found near the woman’s body. There was no trace of strangers in the district at the time of the tragedy. Returning a verdict that the deaths of Mr and Mrs Nolan and the children were due to rifle bullet wounds, the Coroner (Mr W. Frith) said that a thorough, conscientious investigation was made by the nolice. He was convinced that no outside person was connected with the affair. The bodies were So badly incinerated that identification was very uncertain, but he had no doubt that they were the remains of Mr and Mrs Nolan and their i two children. Owing to the body of I Mrs Nolan being so badly charred, it

was impossible to state the cause of death. There was no doubt that the rifle found in the ruins was the one used. The father of deceased. J. J. Hore, expressed the relatives’ appreciation of the thoroughness of the police investigation.