DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 12

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

BROTHERS FOUND DEAD RIFLES NEAR BODIES GRIM DISCOVERY IN WHARE ISOLATED FARM DWELLING (Special to Daily Times) WAIMATE, Aug. 9. A double tragedy at Redcliff, 20 miles from Waimate, was disclosed late this afternoon, when a constable broke open the door of a hut to find the dead bodies of two brothers with two rifles lying nearby. The brothers were:— George Edison Bell, aged 41. Harold Hume Bell, aged 34. Both were single men and lived alone on a farm which was owned by George Bell. The indications were that the men had been dead since the end of last week. It was through the efforts of a man who desired urgently to get in touch with George Bell that the tragedy was discovered. As he could find no one on the property and the hut was locked, he asked the police to investigate. Constable Watt went out to the whare, which is a considerable distance from the residence of the nearest neighbour. The constable broke open the door, which iiad apparently been locked from the inside, to find the bodies lying on the floor. Two rifles, each containing a discharged shell, were lying nearby. The bodies were brought in to the morgue later and an inquest was opened before,Mr d'A. S. Grut, district coroner, and adjourned until Monday. Lived Alone in Whares The double tragedy shocked the district, as both brothers were well known and well liked. The elder, George, owned the farm, the younger brother being employed by him. They lived together in two comfort-ably-equipped whares, all the fittings being of the best quality, including an expensive cooking stove, an up-to-date wireless set and even an electric washing machine. The cause of the tragedy is a mystery, particularly as the brothers had lived together on the farm for a number of years on the most amicable terms. George Bell had farmed the property very successfully and there is no evidence to support any theory that finance was a difficulty. Wounded at War

George Bell saw service at the war and was wounded in the head. Enlisting before he was 20 years of age, he left New Zealand with the 28th Reinforcements and served as a sniper. A bullet struck the side of his skull and an operation was performed in a hospital in England for the removal of pressure of bone on the brain. The operation was successful and he returned to New Zealand to all appearances physically and mentally fit. Those who had business dealings with him in recent years, however, occasionally commented upon a strangeness in his manner. These occasions were comparatively rare but were none the less noticeable. It is stated that a tradesman who chatted with him at his gate on Thursday last noticed that he appeared somewhat distraught. . Prior to enlistment George Bell was a member of the office staff of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-opera-tive Ar:ociation, Ltd., Waimate. He was described as quiet and unassuming, and very reserved. Reserved Disposition Less is known of the younger brother, whose disposition was equally reserved and who had less contact with townspeople. Neighbours of the brothers, however, speak well of both the deceased. The deceased were members of the family of 11 of the late Mr William Bell, who farmed a property. "Woodstock," Waimate, for many years. '