T. BOSTON’S DEATH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 221, 1 September 1932, Page 7

T. BOSTON’S DEATH

WHARERANGI TRAGEDY RESUMPTION OF INQUEST. LENGTHY EVIDENCE BEING TENDERED. The adjourned inquest concerning the • death of Thomas Alfred Boston, aged 23 years, of Taradale, who was found dead in a motor car on the Wharerangi road on last with a shotgun by his side, was resumed at the Napier Court-house to-day before the ActingCoroner, Mr. A. £. Bedford, J J*., and a jury consisting of Messrs. H. Newton (foreman), J. Russell, C. A. Copeland and A. H. Bailey. The proceedings were conducted by Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike. “in giving medical testimony, Dr. J. P. Leahy stated that in company with Dr. W. D. Fitzgerald he made a post mortem examination of the deceased. The body was fully clothed; no damage had been done to the front of the coat, but on the right-hand side of'the waistcoat above the top pocket was a ragged, penetrating wound which extended through the underclothing. There was a wound in the chest that had every appearance of having been caused by a gunshot. In his opinion, judging from the nature of the wound, which was slightly higher at the back than at the front, the gun must have been at an angle of about 20 degrees to the body. Death would have resulted shortly afterwards as a result of shock and haemorrhage.

NO SIGN OF STRUGGLE. Dr. W. D. Fitzgerald, in evidence, said that following a message received he proceeded to the Wharerangi road accompanied by Constable Tucker, arriving there shortly before 6 p.m. He found a large touring car standing on its proper side of the road with all the side "curtains in position. Deceased was seated in the front seat behind the steering wheel. ' The doctor then detailed the position of deceased and the condition of the body, which indicated,that death had occurred about 5 pm. He observed blood stains on the roof of the car. Assuming that the gun was held in the left hand and pointed toward the wound in the right breast, the stains on the hood would be in line. There was no evidence whatever to indicate that a struggle had taken place and the position of the body was such that, taking all the circumstances into consideration, witness could come to no ether conclusion than that the wound was self-indicted. Robert William England, garage proprietor, Kennedy road, Napier, in evidence stated at about 4 p.m. on August 4 he received information that a car he had loaned to the deceased was in Wharerangi road. He immediately advised the deceased’s relatives and an hour later, with them, he went to where the car was standing. Witness gave similar evidence to that of Dr. Fitzgerald as to the position in which the deceased was found. He saw nothing to indicate that a struggle had taken place. Witness communicated with the police soon as possible. Deceased, said England, hired the car from witness on the previous Sunday, stating that he wanted to go out to Hastings on business and he expected to do a fair mileage. It was to have been returned that night but was not until the following morning. On arrival at the garage he asked for the car until lunch tjme, but failed to retarn it aid witness did not see it again until he found it on the Wharerangi road. Albert Samuel Boston, a brother of the deceased, who originally gave evidence of identification, stated that he handed the shotgun to Constable Tucker as he found it in the car. Constable Tucker, who examined the shotgun, said it contained an emptv cartridge the right barrel. When he arrived the body of the deceased had net been interfered with. MYSTERIOUS EXPEDITION. Thomas Henry Boston, of Taradale, electrical contractor, the father of the deceased, said he last saw his son alive at about 11 p.m. oa the Sunday evening before the tragedy. In order to meet payments deceased had asked for a loan of £5O on the previous Friday, stating that he would refund it the following Tuesday, as he had money coming to him. Witness accordingly made deceased the loan as desired. On the Sunday evening before the tragedy while visiting u friend’s house in Napier, his son told witness that he had some money planted near Tangoio in the bush about fourteen miles along a by-road. It was agreed that they should go out and get it, witness driving in his car. While driving out witness was led te believe that the amount was £l4OO. Owing to the clayey nature of the road the car was left and deceased walked into the bush. Witness walked along the road a short distance and on his way back saw the flashing of a torch, which suggested that his son was looking for something. After about twenty minutes his son returned with a parcel roughly wrapped in newspaper under his arm. Witness asked him if he had got the money and deceased said that, everything was all right. Asked why he had buried the money his son said he was scared to have so much money with him as some fellows were chasing him. They arrived back in Napier about 10 p.m. At no time did witness see the money stated by his son to be in the parcel recovered. Witness had not the slightest idea as to where deceased had received such a large sum. He would not say that the deceased’s financial position was difficult, aad he was not likely to issue cheques that would not be met quickly. HOW RUMOURS AROSE. In reply to one of the jury witness I said his son had told him that he had been chased from Wellington through j Napier to Wairoa. Witness then began to refer to an incident on the return from Wairoa when Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike said it had no bearing on the case. When the jury had heard all the evidence the position would be made very clear to them. Regarding all the lumouxs about the care, it appeared as,

if they had been spread by the deceased himself before his death. Mr. Bedford: Rumours are not evidence. Detective-Sergeant Biekerdike stated that thorough investigations had convinced him that the rumours of illicit trading had come from the deceased himself. Witness expressed the opinion that the deceased did not meet his death as the result of financial trouble. FIANCEE’S EVIDENCE. Evidence was given by Marion Violet Georgina Fairey, who had kept company with the deceased for a number of years and had become engaged to him only a few days before his death. Their marriage was to have taken place on August 25. On the Sunday evening witness did not see the parcel brought back from the bush. Deceased stayed the night with them and left the next morning, stating that he was going to Hastings. Discussing future events with her on the previous evening, deceased said he was expecting to make £lOO out of a deal If he had had any large sum of money deceased would certainly have told har about it. At no time had the deceased mentioned to her of anyone having shot at his car. Had such a thing happened deceased would have told her about it. BOSTON PUBLICITY COY.’’ Rex Gordon Clinton, hairdresser of Hastings, said that on the Tuesday night prior to the day Boston was found dead, Boston came into his saloon for attendance. He said that he was feeling rather tired, having just returned from Wellington, having gone down the previous day. Deceased made mention of the Boston Publicity Co., which he was taken over. During the course of conversation he offered witness a position at £5 a week plus certain expenses, and he was to commence duties the following Monday. After closing the saloon witness and deceased went to the United Services Club rooms and later to tea rooms, finally going to the pictures. They then went to the flat where witness lived and deceased left shortly after midnight for Taradale, stating that he would see witness the next day. At the time Boston appeared to be in very good spirits and made no mention of any grudges.