TWO BOYS SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 8

TWO BOYS SHOT

KING COUNTRY TRAGEDY BODIES BESIDE RIVER LEFT HOME WITH GUN FOUND CLOSE TOGETHER ONE CLASPING WEAPON fIJV TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] TAUMARUNUI. Monday A double shooting tragedy, which occurred yesterday at Otunui, about 11 miles from Taurnaruni, and which so far has not been explained, resulted in the death of two boys. They were:— George Sawyer Robson, aged 14, brother-in-law of Mr. A. J. Dean, of Otuniu, with whom he lived.

Trevor Dean, aged six, son of Mr. Dean. Tho circumstances revealed by this evening have not served to show a reason for an extraordinary tragedy. Mr. Dean, father of the younger deceased, is a surfaceman employed by the Taumarunui County Council, Trevor Dean being a child of the first marriage. Robson was a half-caste Maori, his sister being tho second wife of Mr. Dean. Search Party's Discovery The police have established the fact that the two boys left Mr. Dean's cottage about 9.30 a.m., the purpose being to wash a blanket. It was proposed to do this in the Otunui River, for which the boys set out, because of a shortage of household water. The boy Robson had intended to take up a position as a farm hand on another property in the district, owned by Mr. G. Naughton, and he required the blanket for his new quarters. A search was made when the boys failed to return to tho cottage for lunch. A number of settlers joined in the search. The bodies were found about 6 p.m. on the bank of the river, about 400 yards from Mr. Dean's house. Trevor Dean was lying face downward. He had gunshot wounds on the face, about the head, and on the hands, Removed From Wardrobe Robson was found lying a few feet away from th-i younger child. He was on his side, with a double-barrelled shotgun between his legs. He was clasping the barrel with ono hand, and be had a gunshot wound in the head. The blanket was found near the spot where the boys lay. The shotgun, which was of small calibre, was owned by Mr. Dean. An investigation showed that the weapon had been removed from a wardrobe during Mr. Dean's absence, presumably by Robson. It was kept for shooting rabbits. Detective Investigating The inquiries so far have shown that there was no hint of an impending tragedy. The boy Robson is stated to have been of a generally cheerful disposition, and ho was going to his position as a farm hand voluntarily. The preliminary investigation was made by Sergeant C. Harley and Constables W. Bruce and H. Hedley, who removed the bodies to Taumarunui. Further inquiries, which are not yet complete, are being made by Detective J. Murray, of Wanganui. An inquest is to be opened to-morrow before the district coroner. An adjournment is expected.