WHANGAREI FIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9171, 11 October 1915, Page 5

WHANGAREI FIRE

RESULT OF INQUEST MURDER AND INCENDIARISM. Press Association* WHANGAREI. October 9. The inquest on the victims of the Mapuri.'L Hotel fire opened this morning) before tlio coroner. The medical evidence showed that Oxley, senr., died of suffocation, and that tho boy Oxley had four builot wounds in his head, which did not cause instantaneous death. Tho boy had died from coma and suffocation, but would hot have recovered from hid wounds. A revolver was found con* taining four exploded cartridges. October 10. Tho inquest concerning tho fatal fire at tho Mapuna Hotel was continued the whole of yesterday afternoon. The evidence given by; tho female servants and the cook showed that Oxley was worried over money matters and previous to tlio fire had called a girl "from her bedroom to say “good-bye,” but no special importance was attached to this, as he had done so before. When advised to leave the collection of accounts for the day he replied it would bo too late. ’1 ho , evidence indicated that his mind was unhinged, though ho was not noticeably erratic. The coroner returned a verdict to the effect that Oxley had murdered his son by firing four shots into his head with a revolver and had afterwards set the house on. fire in which he and the native Poihopa perished by suffocation.