UNKNOWN MAN’S FATE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1933, Page 9

UNKNOWN MAN’S FATE

SKELETON IN CRIIEK BED.

DEATH FROM SHOT WOUND.

Pukekohe, May 31.

An inquest into the ■ death of an unknown man, whose remains were found at Ararimu on November 10, 1932, was conducted’ by the district coroner, Mr. C. K. Lawrie, at Pukekohe to-day. Evidence concerning the finding of the remains was- given by Raymond John Regan, who stated * that he was employed at the Public Works camp at Paparimu. On November 10 of last year he was working on the Paparimu-Ara-rimu Road and went down to a creek in the gully near the works, intending to look for a' water hole to get a drink of water. Bjy found a place where a small slip had come down into the creek and on. the lower side of this he found a skull. He immediately went back and reported to the foreman. The Pukekohe police were then informed. Constable C. W. Powell, of Pukekohe, said he found the skeleton lying in the creek bed. There was a suitcase alongside the body and a pea-rifle, minus the stock, was lying across the suitcase. There was a hole in the skull as if caused by a small calibre bullet. There was nothing to identify the remains. An empty shell was found in the breech of the rifle. The rifle had been identified as belonging to Robert William Harding, of Papakura. Harding broke the stock of this rifle and threw it’away at Ararimu in December, 1928. Very careful and continued inquiries had failed to establish the identity of deceased. Dr. James McWhirter, of Pukekohe, stated that an examination of the skull revealed a small circular hole in the centre of the forehead, half an inch above the root of the nose. There was no direct evidence of the cause of the injury. The man would be between 25 and 35 years of age. Death had occurred from two to four years before the date of discovery, due to a penetrating wound of the skull produced probably by a small bullet. Sergeant J. T. Cowan, of Pukekohe, said the police had been inquiring continuously for the past, six months without success. The rifle, which been thrown away, had apparently been picked up by the deceased and taken by him to where his remains were found.

The coroner returned a verdict that deceased, an unknown man, died from the effects of a bullet wound in the forehead.