RANGITOTO TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 291, 6 November 1934, Page 7

RANGITOTO TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST.

MURDER OF FAMILY.

Per Press Association. . TE KUITI, Nov. 5. At the adjourned inquest into the death of the Davenport family on October 9, the Coroner (Mr It. M. Somerville) brought in a verdict that German Martin Davenport and Alice Davenport and their two sons, Edward Lancashire and Albert David, ■were murdered by Henare Hon a on October 9.

Constable Rose said that at 8.50 on October 9 he telephoned Mr Davenport, eenr., that a Maori had left Major Westmacott’s that morning threatening to commit suicide, and asked that the police be informed if the man was seen in the locality. Mr Davenport said he was worried over the message as a man answering the description had arrived at the house in a state of collapse, and said that his son Edward, who was working on a slip on the road some distance away, had been killed by some pakelia. Mr Davenport said the Maori later altered his story and said that Edward was having a big row with three pakelias 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 toward the slip. Mr Davenport said the Maori was very excited and . upset, and the two had not returned. Mr Davenport said he and his wife would remain in the house.

Constable Rose said he rang the Davenport home at 9.20, but could get no answer.

Witness then described the finding of Edward Davenport 50 feet down a bank in an unconscious condition.

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 by Sergeant Paine, arms officer at Te Kuiti.

Major Westmacott, the employer of Hona, said he was a cheerful worker, but a few days prior to the tragedy 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 the .303 rifle which was kept in the house •where Hona stayed. On October 9, just after breakfast, Hona 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, railway platelayer, said on October 11 a Maori whom he later believed was Henare Hona boarded the 7.15 a.m. train at Kiokio for the north. . Constable G. Fry gave evidence ot 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 Davenport, who 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. Investigations had made it clear that Edward Davenport was the first person to re ceive 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.