THE NUKUMARU TRAGEDY

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 14 October 1921, Page 7

THE NUKUMARU TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY

I A coronial inquiry wae held by Mr. / H. W. Bundle, S.M., at Nukumaru into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Luke McGorman and Bertha McGorman. ! • Clement Murphy, a farm worker, said Jboth deceased left at 7.35 to walk to j'the meeting at the schoolhouse, about three-quarters of a mile away. Witness itwid the boy stayed in the house, and .went to bed about 9 p.m. Witness did mot know anything was wrong until I next morning. He thought it strange j they had not been called, and, on look- ! ing about, found that the two deceased J were not in tße house. A Maori came j along when witness was milking, and said that Mr. and Mrs. McGorman were' dead blong the road. Witness had never heard the two deceased have any words. McGorman seemed to he kind to his wife and family. Witness had > never seen him in a temper. j To Mr. Izard: He had heard the two j deceased discussing one of their chil- | dren, who were in the hospital, i Mrs. McGorman seemed to be worried about lit.

Frederick Charles Anstis, Taranaki County Council employee, New Plymouth, and brother of Mrs. McGorman, , said he saw Luke McGorman at New | Plymouth a week ago. McGorman, who i appeared to be worried came to his place early on the morning of October! 6. Witness gathered that McGorman j was worried over the cows, although he could not find out much from him. Witness and his wife then decided to go to Nukumaru and see Mrs. McGor»an. The latter told witness that her husband seemed a bit queer, but all she could put it down to was some wool her Jiusband had sold and some cattle he ha& bought. Witness returned to New Plymouth, and came back to Nukumaru last Saturday night. McGorman the^ appeared quite normal. On the Monday witness and his wife went to New Plymouth, returning the following day, the reason being that McGorman rang up witness' mother to tell her that everything wa* all rignt. He felt anxious when he got back to New Plymouth. Bourke: You were frighten- j ed that something was going to happen ? .! worrying you ?—We knew that Mrs. McGorman was going to be laid up, and with the worry and one thing and another we did not know what might happen. Won't you tell us straight out what was worrying youH—That is what I came to Nukumaru to try ancKfind out j He was supposed to be a wealthy ; man .-'—-He told us that he did not have I much in the bank, but we thought he i was safe. Was he of a jealotis nature?-—I cannot say that he was. ( Did, Mrs. McGorman ever tell you that I shei was frightened ?—She never told I me, but my wife said that she felt a bit scared. The Coroner: I have no desire to press you, but you must be frank. . Witness replied that McGorman had been queer for a monh or so. Th*jy had lived happily for a long time. When they had a holiday at Rotorua some time ago Mrs. McGorman said that she had had the best of times. Sergeant Bourke: There seems to be something that we have not got, hut I don t know if it is any use trying to go further. .The Coroner: You would not make all those trips from New Plymouth after your hrother-in-law came to see you without some cause. I have no desire to probe into matters without an object, but I may have to ask you further questions afterwards; _^In reply to Mr. Izard, witness said that Mrs; McGorman had stated that her husband had not been sleeping too welL McGorman was not addicted to hqnor. Deceased was a close man and seemed to worry. Mr Tzard: Did he complain about people'poisoning the cows and the water on the place ?—-Yes. He also said people were shifting parts of the windmill. He also said "that Bertha had thrown him over." The Coroner (to witness): In reply to the police ypu only mentioned about the cows. If you were a little more frank it would not be necessary to go so far into details, ili .there was jealousy, probably in the interests of the family it should he disclosed. Mr Izard: What did he say? Witness: He said that Bertha had thrown him over and had cleared out. He practically made an accusation against her?— Yes. There were no grounds lor any suspicion?—No, none at all. After the evidence was read to the Witness the Coroner remarked that a portion was inconsistent with what the witness gave later. There could have 'been a lot of time saved had th© witness not tried to avoid saying things. Dr A. G. Harvey said that he had known both deceased for many years. He had known Mrs • McGorman from girlhood, arid her character was above reproach and suspicion. He spoke to both deceased over the telephone last Monday evening, and both appeared normal. ' • V The Coroner said that it was quite clear from the evidence that McGormsn killed his wife and then committed snieide. At the time ho was evidently in a depressed state of mind and practically temporarily insane.— Chronicle.