THE RANGITOTO MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4414, 6 November 1934, Page 3

THE RANGITOTO MURDER.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

Tc Kuiti, Last Night,

> At the adjourned inquest into the matter of the Davenport family, the Coroner, Mr R. M. Somerville, brought in a verdict that German Martin Davenport and his wife Alice, and their two sons, Edward Lancaster Davenport and Albert David Davenport, were murdered by Hcnare Hona on October 9. Evidence was given by Joseph A. Tasker, an employee on the farm, who said that, he spolke to the parents the previous night at 5.30 and all were then well. Constable Rose said that, at 8.50 on October 9, he phoned Davenport, senior, that a Maori left Major Westmacott’s farm that morning thi’eatening to commit suicide, and asked that the police he informed if the man were scon in the locality. Davenport said he was worried over the message, as a man answering to the description given had arrived at the house in a state of collapse, and said his son Edward, who was working on a slip on the road some, distance away, had been killed by some pakeha. Davenport said the Maori later altered the story and said that Edward was having a big vow with three pakohas and had sent him for his gun. He told the Maori to call 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 that the two had not returned. Davenport said he and his wife would remain in the house.

Witness said lie rang the Davenports at 9.20, but could get no answer. Witness then described the finding of Edward, fifty feet down a bank, unconscious.

Edward Davenport, a. cousin of the young victims, identified the revolver with which Constable Heeps was shot at Morrinsville as belonging to the Davenport family. This was corroborated bv Sergeant Paine, arms officer at Te Kuiti.

Major Westmacott, the employer of Hona, said he was a cheerful worker.

Mrs Kitty Joseph related how, owing to her finding a letter of Hona’s saying that he was going to commit suicide, her husband removed the bolt from a .303 rifle which was kept in the house where Hona stayed. On October 9, just after breakfast, Ilona disappeared and a search was organised. H. O. Kingi related how he and Moses Anderson spent the night of October 9 in, a hut known as “Tonga’s whare” and in the morning found Albert Davenport’s body outside in the fern. They went up to the Davenport homestead and informed the police of this. John Wallace, a railway platelayer, said that on October 11 a Maori whom he later believed was Henare Hona boarded the 7.15 train at Kiokio for the north.

Constable G. Fry gave evidence of fruitlessly searching for Hona after receiving news of his threatening to commit suicide from Major Westmacott. Detective White said that firearms were found by both the bodies of Mr and Mrs G. M. Davenport, whch were lying at opposite ends of the burnt house. Albert Davenport had been shot from behind near “Tonga’s whare” while moving in a crouched position. The investigatons had made it clear that Edward Davenport was the first person to receive an injuiy. 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.