FAMILY BURNED TO DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 22904, 1 June 1936, Page 8

FAMILY BURNED TO DEATH

The Maerewhenua

Tragedy

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

(United Press Association.) Oamaru, May 30. An inquest into the Maerewheuna tragedy which occurred on February 26 when Arthur Douglas Nolan, Thelma Mabel Nolan, Lindon Patrick Nolan, and Anthony Francis Nolan were found incinerated in a burned house, was held yesterday at Oamaru. Dr Fitzgerald described the positions of the bodies when found. In the front bedroom were the charred remains of a man’s body on a wire mattress and a female adult on the ground. In the other room were the remains of the two children. In witness’s opinion the man’s death was caused by injury to the heart consistent with a bullet wound. The post mortem of the bodies of the children indicated wounds consistent with bullet wounds. The woman s body was too badly incinerated to indicate the cause of death. Charles Douglas Adams, a farmer, gave evidence of noticing the fire. He arrived too late to enter the house. Nolan was an agreeable man and got on well with his wife. Several witnesses testified to the good relations of the couple. James Joseph Hore, father of Mrs Nolan, said his daughter had not been too well. If she vas responsible for the tragedy her brain must have snapped during the night. He was sure it was not premeditated. William Brash Hutchison said Nolan was a very decent type of man and a cheery worker. George Roland Hore said his sister appeared to be worrying about the baby’s health when he saw her six weeks before the tragedy. Elizabeth Alison Hore said Mrs Nolan had been run down in health. William Arthur James Hore said his sister suffered from nerves and he thought this got the better of her and that she destroyed her husband, children and herself. If so, witness was sure the action was unpremeditated. Other witnesses said Mrs Nolan had not been well and had worried about the children’s health. Detective Ernest Thomas gave evidence that investigations failed to reveal the cause of death. The Nolans were very popular and had not a single enemy. Sergeant McGregor said when the bodies were found the barrel of a repeating rifle was found near the woman’s body. There was no trace of strangers in the district at the time of the tragedy. Returning a verdict that the deaths of Nolan and the children were due to rifle bullet wounds, the Coroner said a thorough and conscientious investigation had been made by the police. He was convinced no outside person was connected with the affair. The bodies were so badly incinerated that identification was very uncertain but he had no doubt they were the remains of Mr and Mrs Nolan and the two children. Owing to the body of Mrs Nolan being so badly charred it was impossible to state the cause of death. There was no doubt the rifle found in the ruins was the one used. The father of deceased, Mr J. J. Hore, expressed the relatives’ appreciation of the thoroughness of the police investigation. ________