SOLDIER'S DEATH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 22, 24 December 1942, Page 5

SOLDIER'S DEATH

CORONER'S COMMENT

(Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 2-1

"You heard a shot and should have gone into the house," said the Coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt) when the evidence of a warrant officer of the Provost Section was heard at an inquest into the death of Private Richard John Smithson, aged 20, who was found shot at his home at Green Bay, New Lynn, on November 21.

Warrant-Officer G. Lytollis of the Provost Section attached to the Drill Hall, said that in company with Sergeant Rowland, also Of tho Provost Section, he visited the home of deceased on November 21 to interview him regarding his absence from camp without leave since November 13. No answer was received to knocks on the door, but witness said he heard a noise or someone in the room.

"I then heard the bolt of a rifle being withdrawn and almost immediately afterwards a shot was fired," said the warrant-officer. "Then I heard some person in tho room say: 'Open the door. I have shot myself.' "

Mr Hunt: Didn't you go in? AVitness: We had no right of entry. Witness said he then communicated with Captain Matthews, the commanding officer, who returned to the home with them. Constable O'Sullivan also went to the home. AVitness said that he did not telephone Captain Matthews but went to his home. There was no reply to further knocking so an entry was forced and deceased was found lying dead on the floor.

"If you are in charge of a case like this and you hear a shot break in, law or no law," said Mr Hunt. Constable O'Sullivan said that following a message, he went to deceased's home at 8.40 a.m. lie received no answer to his knock or call. Soon afterwards Captain Matthews and two non-commis-sioned officers arrived. When the door was forced, deceased was found lying dead with a .303 rifle near his body. Ho had a large bullet wound near tho lower rib of his left side and two wounds in his back. Deceased was fond of shooting and had two airguns and an air pistol. DISLIKE FOR CAMP. "Warrant-Officer Lytollis and tho sergeant were not armed, while inside the house was a man juggling with a riflo and they did not know what was in his mind," said Captain Matthews. "If he .wore going to shoot himself, he might ju9t as easily shoot the two men." "What about the poor old police constable?" asked Mr Hunt.

Captain Matthews: We returned with arms

Mrs Smithson, tho soldier's mother, said her son had an intenso dislike for the camp where he was in the kitchen pooling potatoes. He said he would not go back as others were constantly leasing him. He was a-delicate boy and was only 19 inches round the waist. He was lonely and had met no other boy at camp with whom he could be friendly. Mrs Smithson said she had written _ to tho officer commanding and complained at the camp. She produced tho replies she had received since her son's death.

Sergeant Edwards, representing the police, said there was nothing to suggest that deceased had been bullied or teased. The chaplain had spoken to deceased and had found him gloomy. A verdict of suicide by shooting was returned.