THE RANGITOTO TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 6 November 1934, Page 4

THE RANGITOTO TRAGEDY

DEATHS OF DAVENPORTS MURDERED BY MAORI VERDICT AT INQUEST (Per Press Association.) TE KUITI, last night. At the adjourned inquest into the murder of the Davenport family, the coroner, Mr. R. M. Sonnnervillc, brought in a verdict that German Martin Davenport and Alice Davenport and their two sons, Edward Lancashire and Albert David, were murdered bv llenare Hona on October 9. Joseph A. Tasker, employed on the farm, said that he spoke to the parents on the previous night at 5.30 o'clock and all were well. Constable Rose said that at 8.50 on October 9, he telephoned Mr. Davenport, sen., that a Maori had left Major Wcstmacolt’s that morning threatening to commit suicide, and asked that the police be informed if the man was seen in the locality. Mr. Davenport .said he was worried over the message, as a man answering the description had arrived at the house in a stale ol collapse, and said that his (Mr. Davenport’s) son, Edward, who was working on a slip on the road some distance away, had been killed by some pakcha. Mr. Davenport said the*Maori bad later altered his story and said that Edward was having a big row with three pakehas, and had sent him for his gun. He told the Maori to call his son Albert, who was working some distance from the house. He gave both a rifle and they went towards the slip. Mr. Davenport said that lie and his wife were very excited and upset, when the two had not returned. Mr. Davenport said that he and his wife would remain. Witness said ho rang the Davenports’ liou.se at 9.20 but could get no answer. Witness then described the finding of Edward, 50ft. down a bank, unconscious.

Edward Davenport, a cousin of the young victims, the revolver with which Constable Heeps was shot at Morrinsville as belonging to the Davenport family. This was corroborated by Sergeant Paine, arms officer.

Major Westmacott, employer of Hona, said lie was a cheerful worker. DISAPPEARANCE OF liONA

Mrs. Kitty Joseph, related how, owing to her finding a letter of Hona’s saying that lie was going to commit suicide, her husband removed the bolt from a .303 rifle which was kept in the house where Hona stayed. On October 9, just after breakfast," Hona disappeared, and a search was organised. H. O. Kingi told how he and Moses Anderson spent the night of October 9 in a hut known as Tonga’s whare, and hi the morning found Albert Davenport’s body outside in the fern. They went up to the Davenport homestead, and informed the police of this. John Wallace, railway platelayer, said that on October 11 a Maori whom he later believed was Henare Hona boarded the 7.15 a.in. train at Kiokio for The north.

Constable G. Fry gave evidence of fruitlessly searching for Hona after receiving news of his threatening to commit suicide, from Major Westmacott. Detective Whit* said that firearms were found by both the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Davenport, lying at opposite ends of the burnt house. Albert Davenport bad been shot from behind near Tonga’s whare while moving in a crouched position. From investigations witness had made it was clear that Edward Davenport was the first person to receive an injury, and Albert Davenport was next shot on the track to Tonga’s whare. The .22 rifle with which he was shot was found in the debris of the fire.