TRAGIC STORY REVEALED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 August 1935, Page 4

TRAGIC STORY REVEALED

Youth Takes Life Rather Than Face Court Charge INQUEST AT KAPONGA CORONER EXTENDS SYMPATHY The tragic story of a youth 18’ years ol age, wno took his life rather than appear in the Magistrate’s Court to face a charge of a breach of the Licensing Act, was Unfolded at an ihouest at Kaponga this morning concerning the death of Kenneth Victor riarding. The inquiry was conducted by the coroner, :vir W. L. Kennedy, J.P.

Harding was found dead in a. whare at Kaponga on Sunday night last with severe wounds in the head and a shotgun was clasped between his knees, deceased was a Iriend of two employees of Mr A. it. Bates, of Kaponga, and he was in the habit oi visiting these two men, Neil McKinnon and William Rockell, in thdir whare. The men were not at home wnen he called on Sunday evening and ne apparently went inside to await their return. At 10.30 p.m. Mr McKinnon entered his room and there discovered deceased'huddled up' on the ltoor; his body was lying partly across a box on which he' had been sitting in front- of xne wireless.

It- was brought out in evidence that on Saturday evening last deceased had been served with a summons for a breach of the Licensing Act while at Manaia on August 5 last, and apparently he was so worried over this that he shot himself. The verdict of the court was “that deceased came to his death by gunshot wounds self-in-flicted while mentally depressed owing to a pending court case in which he was concerned.” The coroner, in returning the verdict, extended sympathy to the parents, saying that it was a sad end for a boy of 18 years. CONSTABLE’S DISCOVERY. Constable J. O’Donoghue, of Kaponga, said that on Sunday at about 10.45 p.m. Mr J. P. Gibson, a farmer of Kaponga, called and informed him that a man had gone to a whare on Mr Allen Bates’ property on the Manaia Iload and shot himself. He immediately went to the whare, which was situated some ten yards from i>ates’ dwelling. On opening the door of the whare he found the deceased lying on his right side across a benzine box which was directly in front of a wireless set in the room. The electric light- was on as also was the wireless. He then sent- for Dr Grej', of Kaponga, who arrived shortly afterwards. The shotgun was lying tightly between deceased’s knees. The stock was resting on, the floor, with the barrel pointing upwards. His left shoe was off and was lying some six feet away. He had a heavy overcoat on and had cycle clips on both trouser legs; his bicycle was at the front gate of Bates’ property. Witness examined the shotgun, which was a single barrel one, and found it to contain one empty cartridge identical with those owned by McKinnon who also owned the shotgun. Witness said he identified deceased. He was convinced that had placed the stock of the" gun on the floor of the whare. sat on the benzine box and pulled the trigger with his left foot. On Saturday evening last he had served a on the deceased for a breach of the Licensing Act while at Manaia on August 5 lastThe deceased was to appear at the Hav/era Court during the week and witness was of the opinion that deceased was so worried over this that he became depressed and shot himseh. NOTE FOUNDConstable O’Donoghue added that on Monday he found a note in the whare the writing and signature of which had been identified as that of the deceased by his brother, John Phillip Harding. Dr J. I. Gray said that the state of the bodv was consistent with the fact that death had occurred about two or three hours previously. After describing the position of deceased and that of the shotgun, Dr Gray said there was an extensive wound of head and face, in midline just above the nose, with severe laceration of bram and fracture of skull. He was of the opinion that file wound was selfinflicted .. James Bates, aged 11 years, said that on the night in question >ie was in the bathroom at about 8.30 p.m. Ho heard a, noise similar to that of a bursting pipe. He heard it only the once and called out asking what tlie noise was. He was informed by his sister, Patricia, that it was nothing and no more was said. WENT FOR THE POLICE. Neil Charles McKinnon, beekeeper, employed by Mr A. R.. Bates said lie left the whare at about- 6.40 p.m. on Sunday evening, having switched off the light and the wireless. He did not return until about 10.20 p.m., when he went straight to his room in the wliaro and found deceased lying dead on the benzine box in front of the wireless; the light was on - and the wireless going. He did not look very closely nor did he touch anything in the room. Immediately he saw the body there lie went in search of Mr Bates, whom ho found at the residence of Mr J. P. Gibson across the road. Ho informed Mr Bates of what had taken place and went for the police. He recognised the deceased, who was in the habit of coming tot his whare and listening to the wireless. The shot gun found with deceased was the property of witness. William Eugene Rockell, also employed by Mr Bates, said ho slept in the whare, His room was next to McKinnon’s. He left file house on Sunday about 7.30 p.m. and went to his room in the whare, where he read until about- 8 p.m. and then went to bed. About 8 p.m. he heard someone come into McKinnon’s room and switch on the light and also the wireless. He hoard no one speak, nor did he call out, as he thought it was McKinnon returning to his room. He must have gone to sleep right away. After being asleep for a .while h.e was

awakened bv a noise which sounded like something heavy falling on the floor in AleKinnon’s room. The noise did not sound like that of a shot gun, but probably that was what woke him up at first. That was all he heard and went off to sleep again until wakened by the police later. Ho did not know Harding, as he had been in Kaponga only three weeks. Thomas Lewis Tattersall said he was talking to the deceased, whom he knew well, on Sunday evening, for about half an hour. Deceased left him at about S p.m. and said he was going home; he mounted his bicycle and rode towards his home, which was only about a quarter of a mile from the post office. During the conversation deceased seemed to be quite normal and in his usual state of health; he did not appear to bo worried in any way whatever.