REDCLIFF TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 5

REDCLIFF TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON VICTIMS BROTHER GIVES EVIDENCE CONSTABLE’S DEATH CAUSES ;, ; ■ ■ , DELAY ... t ‘•" .7 (Ipecul ro Daily Times) WAIMATE, Aug. 11. An inquest concerning the deaths of George Edison Bell and Harold Hume Bell, victims of the Redcliff tragedy, was opened before the district coroner, Mr d’A. S. Grut, this afternoon. ~ Detective Sergeant Thomas represented the police, and Mr S. I. Fitch watched proceedings on behalf of the trustee in the will of the late George Bell and the relatives. Archibald Bell,. farmer,; of Elephant Hill, said that as the result of a telephone message oh Wednesday afternoon lie accompanied Constable. Watt to his brother’s place. Constable Watt forced the door of the whare, and on going inside witness saw the bodies of his two brothers lying on the floor. Harold Hume Bell' was a farmer, aged 34, and single. George. Edison Bell was a farmer, aged .42; and single., Mr Thomas said this was all the evidence he proposed to bring at the present stage and requested the coroner to adjourn the proceedings. The coroner said it had originally been the intention to hold the inquest next Monday. . In view, however, of the unfortunate death of Constable Watt, who. had been undertaking the inquiries, it was only reasonable that _ the inquest ( should be adjourned sine die. INQUEST ON CONSTABLE WATT An inquest touching the death of Constable. Watt, who was killed' when the police- car went over a bridge while journeying to-Redcliff to make, investigations into the shooting tragedy, was opened and adjourned after evidence of identification was taken. • Sergeant, D. ;P. Murray gave formal evidence, .that thq constable met his death while bn.police duty. The coroner adjourned proceedings until such time as Constable F. J. Black, who ,-as injured m the accident, was able to. give evidence. v The remains of :the.jiatfe Constable Watt will be interred at Tim am this' afternoon. '