Tragic Revelations At Taipuha Inquest

Northern Advocate, 29 June 1943, Page 2

Tragic Revelations At Taipuha Inquest

An inquest jvas concluded at the Whangarei Courthouse yesterday by the district coroner (Mr J. G. Draper) concerning th,e death of Charlotte Ruth Powell, aged 14, of Taipuha, when he returned a verdict that she died on June 14, 1943, at the Whanga-, rei Hospital from cerebral laceration caused by the passage of a bullet through the brain, the injury being self inflicted at Taipuha while deceased was in an abnorma sltate of mind. Two letters were written by the girl oti June 7, the date of the tragedy: one being to her father, and the other to a brother, and stated her intention to take her life. Mr D. L. Ross appeared for the relatives, and Detective-Sergeant J E. Finlay represented the police. Henry Arthur Fowell, father of the deceased, stated she was born in Los Angeles in 1929, arriving in New Zealand when a few months old. Would Have To Stop She was brought up from infancy by the mother of witness, who died on January 7, 1943. The deceased came home to live with him at Taipuha in August, 1942, and was there until the day of the tragedy. Witness was at his mother’s funeral in January, 1943. and, on his return home, as a result of what he had been told he spoke to his .son Charles, and the girl about their conduct towards each other, and warned them against the possible results of a brother and sister being too affectionate. He had spoken to the girl and Charles several times about this matter. They had only got to the stage of holding hands, and witness did not consider this proper between brother and sister. On June 7, he told the girl that it would have to cease. If it did not he told her he would have no option but to send her to a. convent. She then started to cry- He did not lay hands upon her. He was fencing with his sons, Charles and Robert, until about 1 p.m. when his daughter, Mabel, rode over with a letter that his housekeeper had found. Fowell said he went towards a swamp with his sons and there saw the girl who was unconscious with a wound in the head. Witness spoke to her, but she did not reply, although he thought she understood what he said. He did not notice any rifle there. The .22 rifle produced was h'is property and was kept in the kitchen of his home. Devoted To Grandmother

Powell gathered that when the girl’s grandmother died she was terribly grieved, but did not confide this to him. As she had never known a mother’s love and care, she missed her grandmother greatly, and it was because Charles understood her feelings in this, that he displayed so much affection towards her, and she reciprocated those feelings. The grandmother had been like a mother to her, Witness never dreamed Ruth would take what he had said so much to heart. He had questioned Charles about his relationship with the girl and he was satisfied that there was nothing between them other than a little bit more than the ordinary family affection. He was satisfied there was nothing immoral in their love for each other. Her mother’s name was Mabel Corinne Powell. Virtual Stranger Charles Loßoy Powell, aged 18 years, a brother of the deceased said she was practically a stranger to them until she went to live with them in August, 1942. Their friendship was only that of brother and sister until witness’ grandmother died on January 7, 1943. The girl had been brought up by his grandmother and was deeply affected by her death. Fie was sorry for her and paid her ‘a bit more attention. She seemed to get very fond of him as a result, but their relationship was never more than that of a fond brother and sister. Nothing improper ever occurred between them. Witness left his father’s farm on June; G at about noon and went to his mother’s farm, sleeping there that night. He left his mother’s house on the following morning. After his father received deceased’s letter witness and his father and brother went down to the swamp where they found the girl lying wounded on a dry piece of ground in the middle of the swamp face downwards. A 22-calibre rifle was lying partly underneath her. Prepared Funeral Pyre? An almost empty bottle, which had contained kerosene was lying close to her. They noticed that some tci toi grass had been set cn fire. He called to his father who was on a ridge near the house. Fie later found an envelope in a pocket of his sports coat in his bedroom. It was in the girl's handwriting and a handkerchief and lock of hair were also in the envelope. There was a strong smell of kerosene where his sister was found and when she was brought to the house he noticed the same smell on her clothing Hilda Ann Causer, housekeeper for Henry Powell, stated that after breakfast on the day of the tragedy, Powell had occasion to talk to the children, and told Charlotte Ruth, the deceased, that she would have to go to a convent if she did not behave herself. Later she heard the girl whistling while she was working about the house and she - seemed quite normal. She never gave witness any indications she would take her own life. Discovery of Letters At about noon witness noticed a strong smell of kerosene in a room off the kitchen and her little boy informed her that, the girl had taken some kerosene cut of the house. Witness went into Powell’s bedroom and noticed an envelope sticking out of a book. It was sealed and addressed in the girl’s handwriting and she opened and read it. It was the envelope and letter produced. Witness sent the letter to Powell and Powell and his sons then returned to the house and left cn a search for the girl. Police evidence was also given concerning the finding of the girl and the surrounding circumstances as related by the previous witnesses.