THE HEPPLE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7854, 17 July 1911, Page 1

THE HEPPLE TRAGEDY

FATHER’S BODY FOUND ON HOCKS AT NG A HAURANGA. COMMENCEMENT OF INQUEST. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Mi- George Hcpplo and his two sons, George Stark Hepple and Norman Wostbourne Hcpplo (aged seventeen and fifteen, years respectively) was cleared Tin by the finding of a body, which proved to bo tluit of the father, on tho rocks at Ngahauranga on Satuidi*y afternoon.

On the morning of Thursday, Juno 22nd, the deceased and his boys set out on a fishing expedition Irani Petonc in a small datibottomed boat, and were not afterwards" heard of. On the day on which they sailed they were observed to pass Somes Island, and about 5 o clock in the afternoon the caretaker of the island saw a bbat which was supposed to be the missing craft, containing three people, heading for Petone. A strong north-west breeze’ —which during the evening changed to a souther!} 7 was blowing and the boat was under a closereefed sail. After the party's non-arrival was reported a search was made of the oeaoh, but no trace of the missing people were found. Mr Hepple was a draper and resided at Lower Hutt. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the recovered body was opened at the morgue yesterday, afternoon by Dr McArthur, distinct coroner. The police were represented by Sergeant Kelly. ’ _ , The Her. Michael Bawden Hams, residing at Alicetown, Lower Hutt, said that he had known deceased —who was witness's senior deacon at the Congregation Church—for about one year and nine months. Witness last saw deceased on Juno 21st at a church meeting. He had seen tho body in < tho morgue, but cCuld not recognise it. However, the handwriting on a paper found on deceased's bodv witness could identify as being that of Mr Hepple’s. The words on the paper were evidently quotations to support deceased's opinions on the subject of tv J us trifi cat i-o'nU' Heoeaetid was at all times one of the jolliest of men. ~ To Sergeant Kelly: Witness could identify the ehirt, clothing, boots and rest of deceased. The deceased was forty-eight years old. Alexander Freeman, slaughterman, employed at the Ngahauranga meat works, stated that as he was coming along in the 1-52 pan, train from Hutt to ;-Wellington, he saw a body on the rocks. He got off the train at Ngahauranga and walked back to where he had seen the body. Afterwards he informed tho stationmaster who rang nr the police. Witness did not recognise the body, wiich was -verv much decomposed. He did not know deceased nor anything about the accident by which he met his death. 1 . George B. Smart, police constable, stationed at Lambton quay, testified to being rung up at 2.30 on Saturday lr the stationmaster at Ngahauranga. On going out witness found the body lying on th«> boulders between Ngahauranga and Petono. He* did not recognise itbut ou recovering it conveyed it to the morgue. On the bodv _ wag found in the fcrou-ers a containing ss.3'* and in the vest the following papers : (1) a receipt from the D. 1.0. addressed to O. Hepple; (2) a recoint from Kirkcaldie Hid Stains nddressed to Mr Hepple. H the purse there was also found a paper containing various quotations on the subject of "Justification/' The body was almost wholly decomposed and th° left arm was missing from below the elbow. At tlr-s stage the inquiry was adjourned until H o'clock this morning and isto be resumed at Petone. i