SPICIDE OR ACCIDENT?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18536, 5 April 1930, Page 7

SPICIDE OR ACCIDENT?

PALMERSTON BUILDER’S DEATH. By TeIeKrHDV) —Pr-s* A**ocia.tlc*T«. PALMERSTON N., April 4. The circumstances surrounding the deaUi of Walter Edwin Price, builder, Palmerston North, were the subject of an inquiry by the Coroner, Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., this morning. Deceased was found dead in a bedroom of his home in Featherston Street with a gunshot wound near the mouth. Dr King gave evidence of having been called to deceased’s house. The body was on the floor, the head being under the bed as far as the chin. Deceased was clad in pyjamas, and a sheet and blanket were beneath the lower part of the body. The lower part of the left side of the face was concealed by blood from the mouth. Without disturbing the body there were no obvious marks of violence. There was no weapon of any description in the room—nothing to suggest that deceased met a violent or unnatural death. The body was apparently not moved since death. A postmortem examination, after cleasing of the face, revealed a rounded hole below the left side of the mouth, obviously the result of a gunshot wound. The track of the missile was traced into the cranial cavity. The appearances suggested that the shot from the gun was fired at point-blank range. Dr King said he telephoned information to the police station, and accompanied a constable to the deceased’s house. He then informed John Price that his father had met his death through a gunshot wound. A further postmortem examination showed an extensive fracture at the base of the skull, death being instantaneous. A number of slightly irregular lead shot were removed from the brain substance. ‘From observations, I am of the opinion that the evidence is over-whelm-ingly in favour of death having been caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The deceased met his death where the body was found, in a prepared position, as suggested by the sheet and blanket beneath him. The localisation of the blood to the neighbourhood of the head, its absence elsewhere, and the portion of the dental plate lying two feet from the head confirm the first conclusion.” The doctor also stated that the positions of the arms were consistent with those following a self-inflicted wound. Replying to the Coroner, witness said the likelihood of the wound being effected homicidally was remote. The Coroner: From the position in which the body was found, and the position of the wound, accidental death would not be possible? Witness: I would say no.

Evidence was given by three other doctors, expressing the opinion that the wound was self-inflicted.

Sidney Tisdell, said from the size of the wound described, a full shot charge was not present, and had been considerably reduced. A full charge would have lifted the top of the head off. The proceedings were then adjoured.