HIMITANGI TRAGEDY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 October 1929, Page 9

HIMITANGI TRAGEDY

INQUEST RESUMED.

THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE. SHOT HOLE IN A SKULL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) . FOXTON, Oct, 15. , Abe inquest touching the .death of tne eight victims of the Himita-ngi fire on September G, which was formally j opened and adjourned on September 11, was resumed at the local courthouse this morning before Mr Fraser, coroner. Detective-Sergeant Quirke conducted the proceedings' on behalf of the police, , and Mr .1. 0. Petersen appeared on bc- . half of ilka Wright family. Dr. Cyril A. King, said that lie had examined the broken portions of the cranium bones, which had been sub- ■ jeeted to intense, heat, and bad reconstructed the .greater n-art of the vault of a. 'human cranium, discisoing a bole in the base about half an inch in diameter. The skull was that of am adiiit male and was found near Wright’s bedroom. The edges of -the hole were bevelled and 1 the inner aspect exceeded the outer. Ihe hole was stained yellow and minute, "pieces, of lead ivea-c attach - jed to tir? bone surface and/ in tbe bobo’.y of tbe top piece was an i.rrcgnJ Jar piece r<f lead, also stained yellow. The lead was a grape-like.' cluster, pressed topother by heat, most, likely shot. The hole was ■ probably ca u sed j bv a gunshot, wound. It wouldi be im-por-piblc fer tbe gunshot wound to be self-inflicted as/ the position of the- in-di-vichiiai! who received the shot must have I been in a iving or stooping position. If cho wound v:-:tc inflicted by gunshot, it must have been fired a.t blank range, as the shot was, almost a- solid mass of lead on entering tbe skull. Witness 1 made, a post mortem examination of the remains of th? victims. Detailing with the Wright children, witness said that the various calcine bones were undoubtedly human and corresponding in size and 1 development- witht th/os? of young children, and l - the actual number of children was accounted for by the tine-e charred remnants. There w;as no actual evidence of violence. The body in the living room was fire best preserved, and was that of a, tall man, and consisted of a fairly complete trunk and pant of the head, the features being charred 1 beyond recognition. The back part of the skull was missing. There wore no teeth in either jawbone, and it was impossible to distingusli any head injuries. From the - description, supplied to him, the body appeared to be that, of John Bi-oavu ( Westlake. He also descrilred the remains of the child found neair the cot lamcli those of Mrs Wright. Tlie other remains were those l of an adult male. , Tbe remains discovered were of four t children and three adults. j

Dr. King, continuing his evidence, stated that at- first- eight bodies ware not discernible, but from among loose bones associated in Wright’s bedroom were isolated five adult vertebrae, and the extreme end of a -spine. which estab•iishod beyond doubt a fourth adult, making eight victim?. All bones discovered and examined were of recentlyliving. persons. Dr. E. AI. Wylie gave evidence of an inspection of the remains as at first discovered, when only three adults and two children were discerned. Further investigation disclosed the body of a. third -child found with the other two, He also corroborated the evidence and technical details of Dr. King. Westlake was undoubtedly clothed at! the time of the tragedy. Detective Russel] submitted a, plan of the building. About nine other witnesses are to be j colled.