FAMILY TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22433, 1 June 1936, Page 11

FAMILY TRAGEDY

FOUR DEAD IN HOUSE

SHOOTING AND FIRE evidence at inquest WOMAN'S STATE OF HEALTH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] OAMARU, Saturday The inquest into tlie Maerewhenua tragedy on February 26, when Arthur Douglas Nolan, his wife, Thelma Mabel Nolan, and their two children, Lindon Patrick Nolan and Anthony 1' rancis Nolan, were found incinerated in a burned house, was held 3'esterday at Oamaru. Dr. Fitzgerald described the positions of the bodies when found. In the front bedroom were the charred remains of the man's body on a wire mattress, and the woman was on the floor. In another room were found the remains of two children. In witness' opinion the man's deatn was caused by an injury to tho heart, consistent with a bullet wound. A post-mortem examination of the bodies of the children indicated wounds consistent with bullet wounds. Tho woman's body was too badly incinerated to indicate the cause of death.

Charles Douglas Adams, a farmer, gave evidence of noticing the fire. He arrived too late to enter the house. Nolan, he said, was an agreeable man who got on well with his wife. Evidence of Wile's Relatives Several witnesses testified to the good relations between the couple. James Joseph Hoie, father of Mrs. Nolan, said his daughter had not been too well. If she was responsible for the tragedy her brain must have snapped during the night. He was sure it had not been premeditated. William Brash Hutchison said Nolan was a " very decent type of man " and a cheery worker. George lloland Hore said his sister appeared to be worrying about the baby's health when he saw her six weeks before the tragedy. Elizabeth Alison Hore said Mrs. Nolan had been run down in health. William Arthur James Hore said his sister had suffered from nerves, and he thought this had got the better of her, and that she had destroyed her husband, her children and herself. If so, witness was sure her action had been unpremeditated. Other witnesses said that Mrs. Nolan had not been well, and had worried about the children's health. Detective Ernest Thomas said his investigations had failed to reveal the cause of death. The Nolans had been very popular, and had not had a single enemy.

The Coroner's Verdict

Sergeant McGregor said that when the bodies were found the barrel of a repeating rifle had been found near the woman's body. There had been no trace of strangers in the district at the time of the tragedy. Returning a verdict that the deaths of Nolan and the children were due to rifle bullet wounds, the coroner, Mr. W. Frith, said that a thorough and conscientious investigation had been made by the police. He was convinced no outside person was connected with the affair. The bodies had been so badly incinerated that identification had been very uncertain, but he had no doubt that they were the remains of Mrs. Nolan anii the two children. Owing to the body of Mrs. Nolan being so badly charred, it was impossible to state the cause of death There was no doubt that the rifle found in the ruins was the one used. The father of Mrs. Nolan, Mr. J. J. Hore, expressed the relatives' appreciation of the thoroughness of the police investigation.