DOUBLETRAGEDY AT BLACKMOUNT

Southland Times, Issue 25550, 19 December 1944, Page 3

DOUBLETRAGEDY AT BLACKMOUNT

Evidence At Inquest “This is a tragedy where apparently only two people knew the full tact , and those facts have been taken to tne grave of each of them. That being so, it is hardly competent for anybody to do more than guess at the full faets, and probably the least said the better, said the Coroner (Mr R. C. Abernethy, S.M.) at the adjourned inquest into the deaths of Cecilia Rodger Turnbull and Barckley Mouat, who were found shot in the front sitting room of Blackmount station homestead on Sunday, December 10. The inquest was held at Otautau yesterday. The Coroner found that Cecilia Turnbull died at Blackmount station on December 10, 1944, the cause of death being a wound in the head caused by a bullet from a rifle fired by Barckley Mouat. He also found that Barckley Mouat died at Blackmount on the same day, the cause of his death being ? bullet wound in the head, self inflicted.

Senior Detective R. Thompson represented the police and Mr John Tait (Invercargill) represented the Mouat family. DOCTOR’S EVIDENCE Dr W. B. Reekie said that about 1.40 p.m. on December 10 he received a message to go to Blackmount station. On arriving there he saw Cecilia Rodger Turnbull lying on the floor in the front sitting room. She was unconscious, her condition being caused by a bullet wound which started on the left cheek an inch below the eye. She did not regain consciousness and died at 4.40 p.m. From the signs of unconsciousness and haemorrhage the witness was of the opinion that the bullet traversed the base of the skull, injuring the brain and cutting an artery, which bled into the throat. She died from the effects of this bullet wound. ’The witness said he also examined the body of Barckley Mouat. This man was dead. The body was lying on the floor close to the body of Cecilia Turnbull. There was a bullet wound in the middle of the forehead an inch above the bridge of the nose. He was of the opinion that Mouat died of a brain injury caused by a bullet entering the wound which he had described and traversing the skull. TRIP TO BLACKMOUNT He had known Barckley Mouat practically all his life, said Cyril Thomas Sherriff, sawmiller, of Tuatapere. Mouat had gone overseas in 1940 and had returned in July 1943. Mouat had always been quiet; slightly more so after his return. “On December 10 Mouat asked me to take him to Blackmount station,” continued the witness. “I did so. We left at 9.30 a.m. Before leaving Mouat threw a deerstalker’s rucksack in the car. I did not see any rifle. During the journey Mouat appeared to be normal. When we got to Blackmount Mouat took rucksack out of the car and put it near a fence. He asked me to go in and meet the family, and we walked to the house. He greeted Cecilia Turnbull; he shook hands with her. She asked him to go and see her father, who was ill.”

At no time had Mouat given any indication that he would be likely to do anything rash, the witness said. He had walked to the car with the witness when the latter was leaving, and had remarked that he would see him on Tuesday. On going back to the house Mouat had picked up the rucksack. There had been nothing unusual in Mouat asking him to drive to Blackmount. He had made the same request before. Since Mouat’s return from overseas the witness’s car had been at his disposal. “I did not see' the rifle,” said the witness to the Coroner. “I did not know he had a rifle with him. I know nothing more about it.” POLICE RECEIVE MESSAGE

“On December 10 I received a telephone message to the effect that a man named Barckley Mouat had shot Cecilia Turnbull and then committed suicide,” said Constable E. S. Skipworth. “I went to Blackmount, where I saw Dr Reekie attending Cecilia Turnbull. I also saw the body of Barckley Mouat. There was a .22 calibre rifle lying near the body of Mouat, the muzzle of which was pointing towards his head. There was a spent shell in the rifle and also three bullets in the magazine chamber. Another spent shell was found near the body of Cecilia Turnbull. The rifle was in excellent condition.” The girl had died shortly after his arrival at the house, continued the witness. He had known both the deceased for 12 years. On December 9 Cecilia Turnbull, accompanied by her father, had visited his house. She had told him of her intention to break off her engagement with Barckley Mouat because he was keeping company with another girl. While she was at the house Mouat came and inquired for her. She went and spoke to him, and when she returned a few minutes later she was quite cheerful. She said she had made no attempt to break her engagement. The witness said that, if broken, the rifle could be carried in the rucksack without being seen. This was demonstrated to the coroner in court. The Coroner added that some reasons for the shooting appeared in the evidence, but further than those bare facts he did not think it competent to go.