MURDERED BY MAORI

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20454, 6 November 1934, Page 4

MURDERED BY MAORI

Verdict on Tragedy at Davenport. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. Per Press Association. TE KUITI, November 5. At the adjourned inquest into the deaths of the Davenport family on October 9 the Coroner (Mr R. M. Somerville) brought in a verdict that German Martin and Alice Davenport and their two sons, Edward Lancashire and Albert David, were murdered by ITenare Hona on October 9. Evidence was given by Joseph A. Tasker, employed on the farm, who said that he spoke to the parents on the previous night at 5.30 and they were well. Constable Rose said that at 5.50 p.m. on October 9 he telephoned to Mr Davenport, sen., that a Maori had left Major Westmacott’s that morning threatening to commit suicide, and asked that the police be informed if the man were seen in the locality. Worried Over Message. Mr Davenport said he was worried over the message, as a man answering to the description had arrived at the house in a state of collapse and said his son, Edward, who was working on a slip on the road some distance away, had been killed by some pakeha. Mr Davenport said the Maori later altered the story and said that Edward was having a big row with three pakehas and had sent him for his gun. He told the Maori to call his son, Albert who was working some distance from the house. Fie gave both a rifle, and they went towards the slip. Mr Davenport said the Maori was very excited and upset, and the two had not returned. Mr Davenport said he and his wife would remain in the house. Constable Rose said he rang the Davenports at 9.20 bqt could get no answer. Witness then described the finding of Edward, fifty feet down the bank, unconscious. Revolver Identified. Edward Davenport, a cousin of the young victims, identified the revolver with which Constable Keeps was shot at Morrinsville as belonging to the Davenport family. This was corroborated by Sergeant Paine, arms officer at Te Kuiti. Major Westmacott, employer of Ilona, said he was a cheerful worker Mrs Kitty Joseph related how, owing to her finding a letter of Hona’s saying that he was going to commit suicide, her husband removed the bolt from a .303 rifle which was kept in the house where Hona stayed. On October 9, just after breakfast, Hona disappeared and a search was organised. IT. O. Kingi related how he and Moses Anderson spent the night of October 9 in a hut known as Tonga’s whare, and in the morning found Albert Davenport’s body outside in the fern. They went up to the Davenport homestead and informed the police of this. John Wallace, railway platelayer, said that on October 11 a Maori, whom he later believed was Ilenare Ilona, boarded the 7.15 a.m.. train at Kiokio for the north. Sequence of Murders. Constable G. Fry gave evidence of fruitlessly searching for Ilona after receiving news of his threatening to commit suicide from Major Westmacott. Detective White said firearms were found by both the bodies of Mr and Mrs G. M. Davenport, lying at opposite ends of the burnt house. Albert Davenport had been shot from behind near Tonga’s whare, while moving in a crouched position. Investigations had made it clear that Edward Davenport was the first person to receive ail injury. Albert Davenport was next shot on the track to Tonga’s whare. The ,22 rifle with which he was shot was found in the debris of the fire.