MT. COOK HERMITAGE TRAGEDY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 148, 8 June 1932, Page 7

MT. COOK HERMITAGE TRAGEDY

ALLEGED MURDER. CHARGE AGAINST W. J. T. WHALLEY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, June 8. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., William John Thomas Whalley, w’ho was arrested at Hokitika on April 18, appeared on a charge of having, at The Hermitage, Mount Cook, on November sth, 1931, murdered William Edward Wogan, barman-porter. On the date named Wogan was found dead in his bedroom with a .22 calibre bullet in his head. At tho inquest, Charles Digby Elms, manager of The Hemitage, said he had examined the wound, which was clear, there being no sign of singeing or burning. At the resumed inquest on February 29, the Coroner returned the following verdict:—“That William Edward Wogan died on November Sth, 1931, at The Hermitage, Mt. Cook, from laceration of the brain substance and haemorrhage, the result of a bullet wound fired from a .22 rifle. The facts so far proved, in my opinion, definitely exclude the conclusion that the deceased committed suicide. They also are, in my opinion, inconsistent with the deceased having accidentally shot himself. The matter is now one for the police to take such action as they may be advised, and the inquest may be legally re-opened if occasion warrants this course.” The Crown Prosecutor conducted the prosecution, and counsel appeared for the accused.

Wallis George Williams, photographer at Tho Hermitage, said that there was about four yards between his and Wogan’s bedroom. About 6.5 p.m. on November sth, he heard a shot when he was in the backyard. He looked round to sec where tho shot had eome from, and then walked to his own room, but he saw no one while there. He changed his boots and socks. Whalley then appeared at the door, saying: “Bill has shot himself.” The accused went to the kitchen and witness followed. Whalley remarked: “Go to Bill.” Waiting until Whalley returned he followed the accused into Wogan’s room. He found Wogan lying on the floor in the far corner between a settee and a table. There was a space of about eight inches between the table and the settee. Wogan was lying with his back against the wall, his hands by his side. Wogan had nothing in his hand, and there was no sign of a rifle.

Replying to the Crown Prosecutor, witness said: “It looked to me as though he had been put there.” Continuing, witness eaid there was a wound on the left side of his head, and there was blood on the settee near Wogan’s head. Accused remarked something about Wogan shooting himself accidentally, and added: “You had better feel his heart. I haven’t the nerve to feel it.” Whalley left the room, witness following, and later they returned together at the accused’s suggestion. Witness helped Whalley to lift the dead man on to a bed. During this proceeding Mr. Elms appeared and inquired what had happened. “Bill’s been shot,” replied witness who, in answer to another question, said he did not know how it occurred. He did not see anything in the room ho had not seen previously during the year Wogan had been at the hostel. Witness had never seen him go shooting alone or accompanied.