KAIKOHE NEWS

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1928, Page 7

KAIKOHE NEWS

AW AREA TRAGEDY. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) An inquest was held yesterday in the Courthouse, Kaikohe, regarding the deatli of Victor Macken, who was found dead at Awarua. Af.r W. .1. Worthington, .T.P., Acting Coroner, presided over a jury of four. The deceased had a .bush felling contract on Messrs Morfette Brothers farm where he was camped, and was last seen alive by one of his .Maori employees on .Saturday morning when the latter was leaving the camp for the week-end, Macken then being alone in the camp. Mr L. Morfette visited the camp on Sunday afternoon about 4.!!0 o’clock and found that the tent had (been destroyed by tire with the embers still smouldering, and deceased lying on inis partially burned bunk dead and covered with ashes. He went to the nearest telephone, three miles away, and rung up the police at Kaikohe, IS miles distant. On examination, a double shot gun was found with the body, a charred string dicing fastened to .each trigger and one cartridge discharged, whilst the other barrel was loaded and the trigger at full cock. The right side of the hoad and face was blown awav.

The dCM'euSffl occasionally complaint*d of 'heart 'trouble—tin* result of liein£ passed in the (treat War. With the (exception of having a severe attack of influenza about six weeks acfo lie was otherwise in yood health.

A verdict tliat “death was caused by a gunshot wound self inflicted on or a.bout July 1,” was returned. The 'deceased was born and lived in Whananaki until he was about Id years of age. dlc was a widower having a family of two sons and one daughter residin';’ .in Auckland.