NO DEVELOPMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 11 June 1936, Page 8

NO DEVELOPMENT

THE WAIHOU TRAGEDY POLICE INVESTIGATING (By Telegraph—Press Assoriation) WHANGAREI, This Day. No development in connection with the Waihou Valley tragedy is reported. Inspector O’Hara and SeniorSergeant Finch, of Whangarei. are investigating. One of the last persons to see Nelson alive was Ken Howe, son of Mr and Mrs E. N. Howe. Howe had gone to Nelson’s house preparatory to getting' the mail. However Nelson said that he would go and Howe was returning home when he heard a shot. He concluded that it was someone shooting ducks. ABSENCE OF CARTRIDGE CASE A HAMPERING FEATURE WHANGAREI, This Day. Detective H. C. Murch, who has just returned to New Zealand from Scotland Yard, has joined the force investigating the Waihou murder. Two guns have been taken possession of by the police, but the absence of a cartridge case is a hampering feature. The paspalum and undergrowth in the vicinity will be searched in due coui’se. WHANGAREI, 10th June. Ernest Severin Nelson, aged 55, a well-known farmer of Waihou Valley, who was killed in circumstances pointing to murder last night, was a native of Sweden and came to New Zealand when he was three years old. He had been in the north for many years and was a successful farmer and one of the biggest suppliers of the Bay of Islands dairy factory. He married a half-caste Maori last February. W. S. Nelson, of Pakaraka, is a brother and two others are farming in Hawkes Bay. The deceased was a large employer of labour and in addition to a family of share milkers had several Maoris in his service. He was regarded in many ways as a benefactor of the Maori population in the neighbourhood for many years. He was very deaf and it was necessary to shout when conversing with him. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST THAMES, 10th June. At an inquest to-day, William Nelson, of Pakaraka, said his brother was in good health and spirits when he saw him on 20th April. His brother had married a half-caste girl named Smith last February, and witness had expressed disapproval of the marriage in certain quarters. Deceased’s wife had left home on one occasion owing to the fact that there was insufficient room for her own family and a family of share-milkers, but she returned later. Nelson employed a large staff on his 1800-acre farm. All were at home last evening, and some say they heard a shot. SHOT AT POINT BLANK RANGE WHANGAREI, This Day. It has been proved beyond doubt that the shot which killed Nelson at Waihou was fired at point blank range. There is a small depression in the ground with a briar bush a few yards from where the body was found, and it is assumed his assailant was in hiding as the victim passed. Two portions of a shotgun cartridge wads were found. The discovery of the body was made by Mrs Smith, mother of Mrs Nelson. She, with her husband, had come to Nelson to have confirmed a verbal agreement that they might have the use of a car to go to Rawene next day. Mr Smith remained in the vehicle at the gate while Mrs Smith went to the house to see Nelson. She had gone only a short distance when she came on the body. A cigarette butt was on the ground and the evening's mail was clutched in deceased’s hand Mrs Nelson was visiting friends at the time, but was brought home after the discovery of the tragedy.