WILKINS’ FATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22613, 16 April 1948, Page 6

WILKINS’ FATE

FINALLY DROWNED ATT ACK_ SEQUEL DOCTOR’S DISCLOSURE BULLET WOUNDS IN BODY (P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 15. “In my opinion deceased was still alive when he was put in the water. I think it probable that he was then in extremis,” said Dr, P. P. Lynch, pathologist, giving evidence today at the inquest on the death of Francis Roy Wilkins.

Dr. Lynch, who was the first witness, described the examination he had made of Wilkins’ body on the morning of its recovery from Evans Bay. He described the'bullet holes in the clothing and said the body bore • four bullet wounds One was in the left arm, one in the left breast, one in the back and another involving only the thickness of the skin on the right wrist. Severe Head Injuries

On the back of deceased’s head, on the right side, there were three ragged wounds or splits of the scalp, he said. They clearly were not bullet wounds, but appeared to have been caused by some blunt, heavy instrument. After describing in detail the wounds inflicted on the body, Dr, Lynch summed up the conclusions arrived at from the post-mortem, stating: "The deceased was struck at least three heavy blows on the back of the head by some blunt instrument. One of these caused a fracture of the skull and concussion of the underlying brain. This was a serious injury, but not one likely in itself to be fatal. It would probably render the victim unconscious, but he would not necessarily die. “From the appearance ofthe body and clothing it would appear that five shots were fired at deceased. The one which entered the left arm and chest and damaged the spinal cord was a mortal injury. Such ajwound would, in my opinion, by reason of the injury to the spinal cord, be quickly fatal. Short Period of Survival

Dr. Lynch said the combined effect of the head injuries and gunshot wounds would certainly be fatal and. in his opinion, quickly fatal. He would think that the period of survival from such injuries might be only a matter of minutes —certainly only a matter of hours. a In his opinion, deceased was still alive when he was put into the water. It was probable that he was then in extremis.

“Death was due to head injuries, gunshot wounds of the chest and spine and drowning.” said Dr. Lynch.

On April 24, 1947, continued witness, he had made an examination of the motor car which belonged to the deceased. A sample of blood obtained therefrom was shown to be human. Blood recovered from the sea wall at Aberdeen quay was also human. “On Sunday, Aprii 27. 1947. in company with police officers. I went to a garage at 118 Adelaide road.” said witness. “I was shown by police officers a caravan covered bv a canvas cover. I saw there were bloodstains on the cover and that these were most plentiful on the corner nearest the door from the front of the garage to the back of the pm aee There were numerous

spatters of blood, and the shape of bloodstains clearly indicated that the stains were made by flying blood. At two places on the cover and at bne point on the door between the front and the back of the garage there were splashes in which there were small bunches of hair. This hair appeared to be hair from the scalp.” Hair Tufts Examined Witness said that, in association with police officers, he had removed from the canvas cover the tufts of hair and from the wooden door the port of wood to which hair was adherent. He had compared them with hairs from the deceased’s scalp in the region of the wounds and they were found to bear a resemblance Appearances were thus consistent with the hairs in the garage having come from the scalp of deceased and from the scalp in the neighbourhood of the scalp wounds. Dr. Lynch said that while he was in the garage he saw a number of mechanics’ tools. He also saw a number of hammers and thought any one of them could have caused the wound in the head which had caused the depressed fracture of the skull. Witness described his examination of a hat found floating south of Burnham Wharf on April 22. The split in the crown would correspond closely with the position of the upper of the three wounds.

On April 20 he received from the police a hammer described as having beep found by Edward John Soloman at 130 Adelaide road, on April 25. It was similar to a number which witness had previously seen at the garage at 118 Adelaide road.

In his opinion, it, or some similar hammer, could have caused the wounds in the scalp and the skull fracture There were dark stains on the hammer which witness scraped off for examination.’ There was no blood on the scrapings when they were examined microscopically and chemically.

Witnessed produced a vault of the deceased’s skull showing the depressed fracture, the. hammer referred to and also mounted portions of the canvas and wood and the bloodstains adherent to them. For comparison purposes portion of the deceased's scajp in the region of the head wounds' was also produced. Them next witness, Mrs. Alice Powpll. of Taihape, said she had been married twice and deceased was a son of her first marriage. He was born in Hastings in 1904 and was christened Roy Edward Wilkins. He was married in 1920 at Dannevirke, but the marriage dissolved by divorce some years later. He married again in Wellington in 1935. At the time of his death he was in business as a motor mechanic on his own account at four No. 4 A. Palm Grove. Miss Florence Elizabeth Morgan, of Wellington, said she had known deceased for two years. About nine months after she met him he came to board at her mother’s pl?ce in Rolleston street. Witness said she had been in tie habit of going with the receased to Hayvice’s place at 518 Evans Bay road, to play cards. They used to go about once a week. Mr. Lewis Fenton used to go there to play cards. One night early in 1947 they were playing cards and Mrs. Hnyvice remarked to the deceased that she would like to get a big car. Deceased then tured to Fenton a nd asked him what the chances were of getting new cars. Fenton casually said: “ITi see what I can do.” , , . . Witness added that she last saw deceased at 8.15 on the morning of April 21, 1947, when he left IS Rolleston street

to go to work. On April 22 she received a telephone message from Mrs. Maurice Hayvice, of Evans Bay road, whose son was an apprentice a' deceased’s garage. Mrs. Hayvice said deceased had not been at work all day and she inquired where he might be. Later she telephoned the garage and spoke to Mr. Hyder, who worked in the garage. Hyder said deceased had not been at work all day 'and he (Hyder) was worried about his nonappearance. Search for the Deceased

Witness (Miss Morgan) added: “Later I. suggested to Hyder that we make a search of some of the bays to see if we could find his car. I knew deceased was in bad health with stomach trouble and thought he may have committed suicide.”

Witness said they found no trace of deceased’s car. and she and Hyder reported at the central police station that Wilkins was missing.

“I do not know of any person who had a grudge against deceased,” said witness. “I do not know of any person with whom he was negotiating to purchase a new car on behalf of Hayvice or any other person. He did not discuss those matters with me.”

Mrs. Esther Hayvice gave evidence that since Christmas, 194 G, deceased and Miss Morgan had paid regular visits to her home at 518 Evans Bay road, to play cards. Lewis Fenton was also a visitor. Witness said she and her husband desired to purchase a bigger car and in the course of the card evenings she had mentioned this to deceased. Witness might have told Fenton the same thing, as she was aware he was a car dealer.

At about ten a.m., Monday. April 21. 1947, deceased telephoned witness at her home and asked if she wanted to buy a Mercury car, as he could get her one for £BSO. Deceased said he wanted to know straight away, as he had two other people who would be interested. Witness told him she had a car. but could not sell it or raise the money for a Mercury at such short notice. Deceased said he had to have the money by 4 p.m. that day. .‘I told him I would ring him in five minutes. I then told my sister, Hannah Hayvice. and asked her if she would be interested. She said she would. She immediately telephoned deceased and her husband.”

Maurice Hayvice, a tailor, 518 Evans Bay road, said that after receiving a telephone message from his wife at about 10.30 a.m. on April 21, 1947, about a Mercury car he went to see deceased at his garage and saw him alone in his office.

Deceased, on being asked if he was sure the car was new, replied: “Tills man rings me up and I do not know what sort of car it is until I see it.” Deceased did not say the man’s name. Witness told deceased he would have the money by 4 p.m. that day. “At 3 p.m. that day, in company with my father-in-law. Joseph Zimme. I returned to the deceased's garage and I paid him £BSO in cash. He had previously told mo he wanted cash- not a cheque," added the witness. Witness produced the receipt he received. He added that he left on the understanding that deceased would ring him when he had the car, but he did not hear from him or see him again.