BODIES IN HOUSE FIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19028, 30 May 1936, Page 6

BODIES IN HOUSE FIRE

BULLET WOUNDS TRACED FAMILY OF FOUR PERISH STORY TOLD AT INQUEST (Par Press Association.) OAMARU 1 , this day. An inquest into the Maerewiientta tragedy on February 26. when Arthur Douglas Nolan, Thelma Mabel Nolan, Lino-on Patrick Nolan, and Anthony Francis Nolan were found incinerated in a burned house, wasyheld yesterday at Uampru. Dr. Fitzgerald described the positions of the bodies, when found. In the area which had been occupied by a front bedroom were the charred remains oi a man’s body on a wive mattress and those of a female adult on the ground. In the area which had been covered by another room were the remains ol two children. In the opinion of the witness, the man's death had been caused by an injury to his heart consistent with a bullet wound. Post-mortem examinaof the bodies of the children indicated that wounds consistent with bullet, wounds had been inflicted. The woman’s body was too badly incinerated to indicate the cause of death. Charles Douglas Adams, a farmer, said in evidence that lie noticed the fire, but arrived too late to enter the house. Mr. Nolan, said tile witness, was an agreeable man and got on well-with his wife.

Several witnesses testified to the good relations between the couple.

OPINION OF FATHER James Joseph Hore, the father of Mrs. Nolan, said his daughter had not been too well. If she were responsible for the tragedy, her brain must, have snapped during the night. He was sure it was not premeditated. William Brash Hutchinson said that Mr. Nolan was a very decent type of man, and he was a cheery worker. George Roland Ilore said his. sister appeared to be worrying about her baby's health when he saw her six weeks before the. tragedy. Elizabeth Alison Hore said that Mrs. Nolan had been run down in health. . William Arthur James Hore said liis sister suffered from nerves, and lie thought this got the better of her, and that she destroyed her husband and the Children anil herself. If she had done so, the witness was sure the action was not premeditated. Other witnesses said that Mrs. Nolan had not been well and had worried about the children’s health. POPULAR FAMILY

Detective Ernest Thomas said in evidence that investigations had failed to reveal the cause of the death of the Nolans. They were very popular and had not a single enemy in the district so far as lit 1 was aware.

Sergeant. McGregor said that when the bodies were found, the barrel of a repeating rifle was discovered near the woman’s body. No trace of strangers in the district at the time of the tragedy had been discovered. Returning a verdict that the deaths of Mr. Nolan and the children were due to rifle bullet wounds, the coroner, Mr. IV. Frith, said t lia't ,n thorough and conscientious investigation had been made h t y the police. He was convinced that 'io outside person was connected with the affair. The bodies were so badly incinerated that identification was very uncertain, but he had no doubt that, they were the remains of Mr. and Mrs. Nolan and their two children.

Owing to the body of Mrs. Nolan being so badly charred, it was impossible to state the cause of her death. There was no doubt that the rifle found in the ruins was the one used.

The. father of Mrs. Nolan expressed the appreciation of the relatives of the thoroughness of the police investigation.