DAVENPORT FAMILY

Inangahua Times, 6 November 1934, Page 3

DAVENPORT FAMILY

C-iT ; T ADJOURNED INQUEST. MURDERED BY MAORI. (Per United Press Assn.) TEKUITI. Bast Night. At the adjourned inquest into the murder of the Davenport family on 9th October, the Coroner, Mr P. M. Somerville, brought in a verdict that German Martin and Alice Davenport, and their two sons, Edward Lancashire and Albert David, were murdered by Henare Hona on October 9. Evidence was given by Joseph A. Tasker, employed on the farm. He said that he spoke to the parents pre vious to 5.30 and all was well. Constable Rose said that at 8.50 on

the 9th, he phoned Davenport, snr., that a Maori had left Major Westmacott’s that morning, threatening to commit suicide and asked that the poliee be informed if the man was seen in the locality. Davenport said he wa« worried over the message, as a mar answering to the description had arrived at the house in a state of col- 1 lapse and said his son Edward whob was working on a slip on the road some distance away, had been killed by some pakeha. Davenport said the Maori later altered his story and said that Edward was having a big row with three pakehas and had sent Mir for his gun. He told Davenport to cal l his son Albert* who was working some distance from the house. He gave both a rifle and they went towards the slip. Davenport said the Maori was very excited and upset and the twr had not returned. Davenport said hr and his wife would remain in th' house.

Rose said he rang the Davenport? a* 9.20, but could get no answer. The witness then described the finding ot Edward 50 feet down the bank uncon scions.

Edward Davenport, a cousin of thf young - victims, identified the revolver with which Constable Heeps was shot at Mcrrinsville as belonging to the Davenport famly. This was corroborated by Sergt. Paine, the arms officer at Tekuiti.

Major Westmacott, the employer of Hona, said he was a cheerful worker, but a few days prior to the episode seemed strange. Mrs Kitty Joseph related hew. owinr to her finding a letter of Hona’s. saying that he was going to commit sui cide, her husband removed the bolt from a .303 rifle, which was kept in the house where Hona stayed. On the 9th of October, just after breakfast Hona disappeared and a search wa~ organised. H. O. Kingi related how he and Moses Anderson spent the night of 9th in the hut known as Tonga’-"' whare and in the morning found AJ bert Davenport’s body over the side of the fern. They went to the Daven port homestead and informed the pol ice of this.

John Wallace, a railway platelayer said on 11th October, a Maori whoir he later believed was Henare Hona boarded the 6.5 a.m. train at Koiko:

Constable G. Fry gave evidence oi fruitlessly searching for Hona after receiving news of his threatening to commit suicide, from Major Westmacott.

Detective White said firearms were found by both the bodies of Mr and Mrs G. M. Davenport, lying at opposite ends of the burnt house. Albert Davenport had been shot from behind near Tonaga’s whare, while moving in a crouched position.. In vestigations had made it clear that Edward Davenport was the first person to receive an injury. Albert Davenport was next shot on the track to Tonga's whare. The .22 rifle with which he was shot was found in the debris of the fire.