Coroner's Inquest Proved Murder, but Failed To Name The Murderer

NZ Truth, Issue 1247, 24 October 1929, Page 7

Coroner's Inquest Proved Murder, but Failed To Name The Murderer

the hole . on . the

outer aspect on the edges of the hole. The doctor added that . when a hole was driven into a skull, to drive a clean hole the missile would have to travel at a much greater velocity than, say, a pick or other instrument.

Considering the fragility of the bones -and the rounded edge o f the hole, such an injury to the skull must have been

sustained before What part did these deadly weapons play m the awful \**}f *£ lucVh.tragedy at the lonely farmed? Jense h^t.

AFTER lengthy proceedings occupying two days, the inquiry into the circGmstances surrounding the. deaths of John Brown Westlake, Samuer Hewitt Thomson, Thomas Wright, Katherine Mar ( y Frances Wright, and the four Wright children,' Joyce, Brian, Aileen and Prudence, all of whom. , perished m a fire which totally destroyed the Westlake homestead on the lonely Himatangi , estate on the night of September 6, has "been brought to a conclusion. Tne proceedings were conducted m the Foxton Courthouse "' before Mr. A. Fraser (coroner), of Foxton. De-tective-sergeant Quirke conducted the case oh behalf of the police and Mr. Q. C. Petersen watched proceedings on behalf of the Wright relatives. Sensational 1 disclosures were made by some of the 25 witnesses who tendered .evidence ajid. did much to point the finger of suspicion at Wright, who was stated to have. been eccentric m the highest degree with homicidal tendencies. , But despite the evidence tendered by the different-witnesses claiming to have -*.**.<?■' the confidence of Mrs." Wright, no evidence was produced which cast any light on the mystery beyond bolstering up the theory that Wright murdered the whole :o_ . the : occupants ' of the

Medical Evidence

Whare owing to temporary derangetnent due to financial worries. The courtroom was crowded on both days and the exhibits submitted by the police were very numerous, interesting and gruesome, the chief, exhibit being the reconstructed Wright ' or Thomson skull. . 1 Dr. Cyril King-, of, Palmerston North, "was the witness to tender evidence on which the police were chiefly relying- to bring a successful conclusion to their Investigations. The doctor stated that on September.7 Detective Russell brought him a number of broken portions of cranium bones to examine. The bones had all been subjected to intense heat, but from the- fragments he had been able to reconstruct the greater part of the vault of a human cranium, Which was produced, disclosing a hole ln the base about half an inch m diameter. There were about Fix portions of ., bone around the.liole, which articulated exactly. The breaking of the skull around the hole was attributable to intense heat. As reconstructed, the skull was as it was first discovered. • - - The remains consisted of the "back portion and side of the ; skuh\ the greater part of both top 'bones, and a small piece of the posterior area of the frontal bone m front of the top piece of the skulL . This led the doctor, to 'believe, together with the 'thickness of the bone, that it was that- of an adult male. He was told that the bones w r ere found, m the vicinity of Wright's bedroom. The reconstruction of the . skull showed a round hole at the left side near the base. The position was important: The edges of the hole were bevelled so that the. diameter m the inner aspect of the skull exceeded that of the outer. It was. slightly oval, not entirely round and the outer diameters were 22 millimetres .by 18 millimetres and the inner 25 millimetres by 23 millimetres ahd s. it was obvious that the hole was greater on the inside.

Fatal Gun-shot

For half of the circumference the hole was stained yellow and there was a minute piece of lead attached to thebone surface. Inside the skull, lying m the hollow of the top piece, was an irregular piece of **lead about 28 millimetres long and 12 millimetres broad, also stained yellow as was the underlying bone at that point. One and a-half inches behind this point were two similar but much smaller spots of yellow staining, the centres of .which wez-e unstained where apparently rested two pieces of lead. "That" is merely a deduction, sir," said the doctor, "as there were not two pieces of lead there, but one deduces by the size.-and color that that was so." The main piece of lead was long and I narrow and on close examination was apparently a grape-like cluster of small round, pieces of lead fused together by, the action of the heat. The doctor examined ' the pieces of lead produced, taken from the skull, under a magnifying glass and described them as apparent grape- like clusters of lead — most likely shot. "I am not able' to swear to that, however," he concluded. "".'-'.'■•' Detective -sergeant Quirke: Expert evidence will be given on that point later. What caused the hole m the skull? The doctor: In my opinion the hole was caused by a missile travelling at a very high velocity as there was no evidence of secondary fracturing of

" . The bevelling of i the edges inside the skull made an exact parallel with the reported result of a gunshot wound. The bevelling further gave the direction of the missile, its course being directed from the hole of entry down- * wards and slightly inwards towards the inner line of the base of the skull. No portion of the base of the skull remained and m the circumstances no point of exit need be looked for m such portions of the skull as remained. It would have b.en impossible for the gunshot wound to have been selfinflicted and the position of the individual who received thc shot must have been m a lying or stooping position when the shot was fired. ' If the. wound was made by a shotgun It must have been fired at almost point-blank range, when the shot was almost a solid mass of lead on (entering the skull. It would therefore, have been impossible for the wound to have been inflicted had the gun not been fired' at close range. Detective Russell said inquiries were made at all the farms m the Barber Estate, but m no instance was any suggestion of a stranger having been seen m the neighborhood. All the people interviewed stated that m their opinion it would be „ impossible for a stranger to find Westlake's farm without asking the way and if a stranger attempted to find -the .house he would be nearly sure to encounter one of the otherhouses first. On inquiries being made from all the vendors of poisons m Palmerstbn North, Rongotea and Foxton districts no instance "of any record of any poison of any description being supplied to any member of' the Westlake household was discovered. Every person who had been supplied with poison at Himatangi, Bainesse, Rarigiotu, Rongotea and districts have been' interviewed and . had given- explanations as to the disposal of the poison supplied to them. In no instance was any , poison supplied to anyone m the Westlake. household. The most interesting evidence -up to this point was tendered by William Hines, who stated that he had used the axe found by Robinson to cut up a calf for Westlake's pigs the day Robinson visited^the. farm.

Ldborefs Story

Robinson was award of 'this fact as Hines had used" the axe' orily a. few moments before Robinson picked it tip. He had taken the axe from a. shed where it had been previously kept and which up till the time he used it, was quite clean. • Kauri Patea detailed his discovery of the smouldering ruins of the building containing the charred remains of the inmates.. John Symon was called to detail his business transactions with Westlake, but here again the evidence" was merely a reiteration of that published in"this paper some time ago. Symon added, however-, that Westlake appeared a lot quieter on the day of the tragedy. The gfeater part of the second day's proceedings was. spent m an endeavor to throw suspicion on to Wright. Many witnesses were called and most of them confined themselves to . .detailing Wright's many eccentricities. James George Coley, laborer, of Foxton, said he had seen and spoken to Westlake between 9 and 10 a.m. o,n the day of the tragedy as Westlake was riding into Fox-" ton. Coley again . saw Westlake about a quarter of a mile from his gate some time m the evening between 4 and 6 o'clock. He did not. I • speak on that occasion. William Griffin, foreman, employed on the Barber estate, said he knew Westlake and Wright and a few days before the fire had been m conversation with Westlake. Westlake had then remarked that Wright was one of the .fairest men he had ever met. A day or so after that, however, when m the course of his shepherding duties, he had ridden up to the top of a high sand ridge which gave him a' good view of the surrounding; country and, incidentally, of the Westlake homestead. He took out his field-glasses as was his usual custom to look over the sheep and m sweeping the country with the glasses his gaze was suddenly arrested by a strange sight at the Westlake homestead. Standing together outside the whare were two men whom he took to be Westlake and Wright, judging by their size. A third person, taken for Thomson, walked a little way away from the group going m the direction of the cow bails and then, turning, ran back! This was repeated several times while Griffin watched and he came to the conclusion that an argument was m progress. * ■ ' To Mr. Petersen: He was only half a mile away. He could not recogriise the three men, but he was certain it was the three mentioned by their relative sizes. There were no strangers' there. In

RIDDLE OF HIMATANGI TRAGEDY

Ample Evidence of Wright's Threats, but Fire Ruins Hide Grim Secret

Wright said she did not think her husband could stand the ! strain. The worry was proving too much for him. He was a particularly sensitive man and was always worrying that his people m England might hear about his position." Mrs. Wright told Mrs. Howell- that many times he r husband was up all night and used to make cups of tea for himself as he couldn't sleep. , On another occai sion Mrs. Wright I told Mrs. Howell that she and

her husband had had a row m the middle of the night and that Sam. Thomson had got up to protept them — to keep them apart. Whenever they had differences, Mrs. Wright told Mrs. Howell, Tom always pulled the pictures down m the sittingroom and threw them about the" floor. At this stage Mr. Petersen (who was appearing m the interests of the relatives of Mrs. Wright) objected to the evidence on the grounds that it could not help the court m arriving ata decision. Expert evidence has been heard, he said, and if murder, was committed on the night of the fire there' was nothing to show who was the perpetrator or victim. ' Also evidence had been tendered which showed that it was impossible to establish the identity of the skull with the hole m it. In counsel's opinion any evidence brought before the court to show the domestic relations between Mr. and Mrs. Wright could not assist the court m arriving at its conclusion and would only serve to throw suspicion on someone who could. not answer for himself, and Avho might' be perfectly innocent. The rumors : arid conjectures abroad had already caused the relatives of some of the occupants of the whare great pain. The Coroner: I aril riot prepared to hear a speech from you, Mr. Petersen. Mr. Petersen: But this cannot assist the court. . The Coroner: A Coroner's Court is quite different from/an ordinary Magistrate's Court and I am justified m hearing any evidence which may throw any suspicion. on anyone. Detective Quirke: Quite right. This is very relevant. • Mr. Petersen: On|y conjecture • can. result. , ' Detective Quirke:. lt is painful to us to have to bring such evidence before the court, but we 7 must bring out the facts. ■ • Continuing, Mrs". Howell said that at times Wright used to talk like a gentleman, but at other times' he was very peculiar and funny. • Sometimes he acted as though he was not normal mentally. , Mrs. Wright was a good woman, and very hard working..Thomson was a simple lad devoted to the Wright family. Westlake was very straightforward- upright, just, and exact. William Matheson, another Rongotea farmer, said Mrs., Wright stayed at his

<s EnouoiofTyhis "

house before leaving for Himatangi to rejoin her husband. He took Mrs. Wright and her children m his car as far as possible towards their new home. Mr. Matheson also claimed the confidence of Mrs. Wright and said she told him that one pight Wright had put her out on the road at 2 a.m. She had reriiained out for about an hour and then had knocked at the door. Wright admitted her, sayirig: "This is enough of this." Some years ago, said Matheson, Mrs. Wright was so afraid of her husband that she asked a school teacher named Jensen, who was staying at the 'house, tb remove, the firing pins from the shotgun and this was done. * Wright was a moody. man and vei*y hard to understand. Thomson was simple and good .natured and could never be suspected ; 'bf a violent act. Speaking with the knowledge of ten years' /association with the Wrights, Arthur Hill. said Wright's -failure to make "a do" of his farm was due tip laziness and the, fact that he was a bad farmer. On one occasion at haymaking time Wright told him that the . first girl was his, but the boy was not. Peopje. who knew the family would say that was a lie. All the children were Wright's. Wright was . ■ sober at the time he made the statement. On another, occasion he took Wright tb Palmerston North and when the -time came to go home he could not : locate him. He searched for him and after a while heard, someone coming along the road mumbling over and over again: "They've got the lot, they've got the lot." It was Wright. * His behavior was not that of an insane person, but he may have had some, liquor. Mr. Petersen : You gave no credence to Wright's statement m reference to his children? Hill: No, no one would. Mrs. Wright was a good/straightforward woman. Albert -Henry Burgess said the Wrights had been visitors to his house m Rongotea for sixteen years. He had known both parties before their marriage and Wright latterly had sought advice from him on his financial position. He was an intelligent man, but not normal and his financial position certainly caused him a great deal of worry. He was not industrious and that was the reason for his failure as a farmer. Martha Elizabeth Burgess, wife of the pr-evious witness and confidante of Mrs. Wright, said Wright hardly ever

spoke sensibly. Mrs. 7 Wright rang ber , ujj one morning and said her husband had been playing up and had thrown pictures about and emptied bedroom linen out of boxes. Mrs. Wright said her husband, always appeared to start his quarrels at night time and had a habit of grabbing- her by .the throat. She had had occasion to send for her father after one of his outbursts. H. E. Bergersen, lock and gunsmith, of Palmerston North, identified the gun produced as a Conway shotgun and the grape-like clusters found m the skull as No. 3 shot. The hole, he said, could easily have been caused from a shot fired from the choke barrel of the gun produced at a range of about six feet. In summing iip, the coroner said that m reviewing the evidence one * thing was apparent arid that was the fine investigations made by the police and detectives. The detectives pushed inquiries m. every direction and interviewed over 125 persons and 25 witnesses had teridered evidence. So far as any person could judge no possible avenue had- been left unexplored by the police which might cast any light . on the tragedy.

Hole In The Skull

The medical evidence which had been tendered had been, very full and complete. Drs. King and Wyllie had been very explicit, m their evidence. The post-mortem examination carried out by these two* men had established the fact beyond doubt that eight persons were present m .the dwelling and met their deaths when the house was burnt down. ... The hole m the skull was the hardest problem they 7 had been confronted with i and he did , not think that the mystery surrounding the wound would ever be solved. .'.....- --. The question was: "Who killed who and why?" If that question could be answered then they might know iomething of the cause of the tragedy, but it was his opinion that no one would ever know. Was the person to whom the skull with the hole m it belonged intentionally killed or was the killing accidental? It was impossible to rule either theory out. "Suicide was impossible as the medical evidence proved that it would have been impossible for such a •ttjound' to have been self-inflicted.,' In his 25 years of experience as coroner he had never encountered such a completely baffling case. The fir© had made such a clean, sweep that there remained little \ other than the medical evidence to go by. The possibility that the tragedy was committed by some outsider was possible, but so far as was known there was no motive for such a murderous attack. ■•■---. The possibility of , this being the solution of the mystery was remote m tlie extreme.Tlie building w*as very isolated and all the witnesses had . stated that it would, have been impossible for '■ a stranger to /locate the house m the dark except' by accident; ■■=.••■'•'"• That theory could be ruled: out. It appeared thati'thS tragedy,, was confined td the inmat-_ of the house. A lot .of evidence had_ been heard concerning the financial position of Wright. He may not have 'been a normal man and undoubtedly had had a lot of worry, but there was not one shred of evidenceto prove that Wright was guilty m any shape or form." , There was no evidence that .* Thomson was the guilty person. ; either. The skull with the shot , hole m it belonged to either Thorn r. son or, Wright. The rest was blind conjecture arid the police would even admit this.

Coroners Comment

Three bodies, those of Mr. and Mrs. Wright and Thomsonwere. found m the one room. . The shotgun supposedly the cause of the tragedy was . found m Westlake's room, Westlake being located m another room. Owing to Westlake's imperfect eyesight it was improbable that the gun was fired by him if it was fired. That confined suspicion to Wright and Thomson and no one could say which one fired the shot or whether it was intentional or and no one could say whether the fire was intentional or accidental. . The mystery w*r>uld" never be cleared up. >' ■■:-. • "Personally, he could see no solution to the mystery. The' police had neglected nothing and no one would evei* know the truth. The verdict was that the victims met their deaths on September 6 while living m a house at Himatangi owned by John Brown Westlake which was totally destroyed by fire, and so burnt and deemed unrecognisable except by medical evidence.