PALMERSTON N. TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17232, 11 April 1930, Page 8

PALMERSTON N. TRAGEDY

RESUMPTION OF INQUEST NEIGHBORS GIVE EVIDENCE (,)IK-ilt!\ i)|' INSURANCE (P«r Press Association.) PAUIKKSTO.N N., this day. Tlif circumstances surrounding the death ul .Walter Edwin L'rice, a builder, whu was I'i■mid dead from a gunshot wound in ihf head, was resumed before the coroner. Mr. .1. 1.. Sloul, S.M.. this silternoou. tiny a c:ivpeliter employed by ['rice, siiid that Hie day his employer was found dead lie was working on 7i jidi near I lie deceased's house. 11.- was ini'orined by Nagel and John price of his employer's death. Describing the appearance of the body lo ilie corner w hen witness and others with Dr. King entered the room, lirogdeu said I'he deceased appeared in be lying with both anus onlslrelchcd, bui he could not swear to Unit. 11-:- could not say if there were signs of a struggle. He did not closely observe the room. The coroner: Did any one connected with the l'rice family approach yon about his case.' The witness: No, only Mr. McGregor. 1 informed him that I had made a statement to the police. I'he i\ i| nef.s added that there was no conversation after the doctor's deparI are concerning I he cause of death. Senior Detect i\ e Quirke: Was anything said about how M is. l'rice would l,e left as a result of the deceased's death .' i'he witness: Yes. .loltn l'rice asked how she would be left. I replied that i though! he need not worry. John l'rice said: 'There is insurance in this, i wonder if it is paid Up?' The. witness added thai he thought it would be John l'rice who asked him to go and look at it. Witness was reluctant, but John l'rice said, "Oh, come on." Witness went, in and 'John l'rice obtained a paper which proved to be a builder's risk. That was all after the departure of the doctor. To Detective Quirke the witness said ('he deceased always had used his right hand for .sawing. His left arm troubled him for a while after a motor • accident. To the coroner he said the deceased had a little difficulty in lifting his; left arm. Detective Quirke: What was the temperament of the deceased ? The witness: lie was quite casygoi ng. The coroner: 1 suppose not the sort of man who would make such an enemy as would come and murder him in cold blood in his sleep.' Witness: No, not to my knowledge. The coroner: That seems to be the suggestion of John l'rice. To Mr. McGregor the witness said Ihe deceased on the day prior to the . tragedy was juicing' and cheerful, as he always was. and appeared to have no worries. His manner was perfectly normal. lie knew no motive for the deceased to commit suicide. Adnlph Jhls, who had worked for the deceased, said he was of a very quiet temperament, even reserved. When witness was at the house on the morning i lie body was found John Price wrote out u list of addresses of rcla- . lives and handed them to Mr. lirogdeu, savin:; lo all present : " What about lh'e insurance.'" John Price did not appear lo be upset. Later witness visited the deceased's house and saw I In- body. The right arm was in an upward direction, with the hand half closed and the left arm straight out from the body. The head was over to tin- left. The body was lying mi a carpet, blanket, and sheet. (Proceeding.)