FARM TRAGEDY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20432, 1 June 1936, Page 11

FARM TRAGEDY

MURDER AND SUICIDE EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY By Telegraph—Press Association OAMARU, May 30 'The Inquest Into the Maerewhenua tragedy on February 26, when Arthur Douglas Nolan, Thelma Mabel Nolan, Lindon Patrick Nolan, and Anthony Francis Nolan, were found burned to death in their home, 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. The female adult was on the ground. In the other room were the remains of two children. In witness’ opinion the man’s death was caused by injury to the heart, consistent with a bullet wound. The post-mortem on the bodies of the children indicated wounds consistent with bullet wounds. The woman’s body was too badly burned to indicate the cause of death. diaries 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 was 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 a man and a cheery worker. George Roland Hore 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 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, her children and self. 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 ban-el 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 (Mr W. Frith) said that after the thorough and conscientious investigation made by the police, he was convinced that no outside person was connected with the affair. ”ae bodies were so badly burned 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 bady 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 Mrs Nolan, Mr J. J. Hore, expressed the - relatives’ appreciation of the thoroughness of the police investigation.