WILFUL MURDER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17111, 12 October 1917, Page 4

WILFUL MURDER.

VERDICT OF CORONER

THE KAUANGAROA TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST,

The coronial inquiry into the circumstances^surrounding the death of Mrs. Ethel E. R. Bennier, a victim of the Kauangaroa tragedy recently, was continued yesterday before Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M.

Mr. G. Marshall conducted the proceedings for the police.

Bennier was present in custody

Albert Edward Beekhani, brother of deceased, stated the married life of Bennier and his' wife was not a happy one. Bennier used to carry on and knock his wife about. There were six children, but one died some time ago. Deceased left Bennier and came to witness's place at Oeta. Subsequently four of the children also came. -They were there a fortnight before the night of the assault, and during that period Bennier paid a visit to see if his wife would go back, but she would not. On that occasion Bennier conducted himself in a reasonable way. He was a man who drank a good bit on occasions. On Friday, September 7. witness came home from work about 5.30 p.m. and found Bennier at the house. Mrs. Bennier on that occa- • sion was away at Halcombe. Witness and Bennier had a talk. The latter said he had £300 left for him and his wife, and he wanted her to go back home. He said he would change his home at Makirikiri and take out a prohibition order against himself. Bennier asked if he could stay the night, and witness consented. Three young men were also staying at.the house—-Bayler, Matson am* Young. Next morning witness went away to work, after asking Bennier to cut a bit of wood. An axe was on the wood-heap. Witness returned home for tea about 8 p.m., and afterwards cards were played. Bennior, who appeared normal, joined in. About 9 o'clock deceased returned home and Bennier talked with her in the kitchen. Witness did not know what took place,, but he could have heard if there had been any quarrelling. Bennier seemed quite pleased when he returned to the dining-room, and resumed playing cards, and th« game was kept up to midnight. Then they had supper. . Everybody was on good terms. ! That night the three young men slept in the back room. ;he Bennier children and Bennier in the next room. Witness's wife-and Mfs. Bennier slept in a third room, and witness had a "shake-down" there. Two children were also in the room. When witness went into the bedroom he could see a light, under the door of the room Bennier was in. Before getting into bed witness turned the lamp low, but not out. A RUDE AWAKENING. Proceeding, witness s^id he was awakened between 2 and 3 a.m., and saw Bennier in the room with som«thing in his hand. Witness was struck on the arm, and then saw it was the axe. Witness grappled with Bennier to save himself, and secured the axe. . Mr. Marshall: What did you say?. Witness: I said: What isVourgame, Frank? Mr. Marshall: Did he answer? Witness: No.

Mr. Marshall: Where did he go then? Witness: I heard him run down the passage. Witness added that he then became partly unconscious until . tho police arrived and took him to the hospital! Up to that time he waw not aware that he had also been struck on the head.

Mr. Marshall: Was there any drink in the house that night?

Witness: Yes, three of us, including Bennier, had a, nip each of whisky. A TRAGIC EXPERIENCE. Mrs. Margery Beckham said Bennier told her his brother had been killed at the front.and had left him some money. Bennier was quite sober on the Friday and Saturday. Witness went to bed with deceased and the baby.

Mr. Marshall: What caused you to wake? .'■

Witness: I don't know, but when I did I saw Bennier bringing the axe down on my head.

Where did it strike you?—On the top of the head.

Witness added she and the child slept at one end of the bed, and deceased at. the other end.. She saw her husband take the axe from Bennier. She heard the young fellows-calling out from the other room, but-did not go there as they told her not to. Witness then locked the door. She saw her husband lying on the floor, and Mrs. Bennier on the bed. Both were bleeding. Witness covered her husband up and 'got back into bed.

What effect did it have on you?— I don't know. How did you feel?— Not very well. A pain in the head? Yes.* Witness added she did not remem^ ber any more until the doctor came. MEDICAL EVIDENCE. Dr. Walter Kerr Hislop, Medical Superintendent at the Wanganui Hospital,- said the patients when admitted to the hospital all had wounds of a serious nature. Mrs. Bennier had a wound five inches in length, extending tfeaversely across the head from the left eye. Her death was the result of the wound. The wounds on Bennier indicated he had made a number of attempts to cut his throat. The other patients had now practically recovered.

Dr. A. H. E. Wall, who proceeded with the police to Oeta, described the injuries six of the inmates of the house had sustained. He also attended to Bennier's injuries. ALL ON FRIENDLY TERMS. Henry Christian Matson, a youth, said he was employed by Beckham. He said on the Saturday Bennier appeared friendly and in good spirits. There was no indication of any illfeeling.

Mr. Marshall:' What happened

after you went to bed?-—I was hit onj the head, and then I woke up. Did you see anyone in the room?—* I saw a man, whom I believe to hava been Bennier, with an axa. He had it suspended over Bayler's head. ■

What happened next?—l hearC the "kiddies" screaming, and Beckham calling out for me to go for* help. I tried to get up, but I was helpless.

Albert Beckham, recalled, identic fled the axe produced in Court as the one in use on the wood-heap. H was the same axe he took from Ben* nier.

CRIME PREMEDITATED.

Senior-Sergeant T. Bourke sale! he had seen Bennier on one occasion a£ooit three weeks before the trag-; edy. He' came to witness's office and said his wife and family had cleared out from him and had gone to live at Kauangaroa. Bennier wanted to know if the police could do anyn thing to get his wife back. Bennie* on that occasion was slightly undei the influence of liquor. Witness questioned Bennier who said all hig children had been in the Wanganul Hospital, and that one had died there

Witness suggested that Bennie* had not. been treating his wife and family properly, and told him the police could do nothing to assist tc get them back. Bennier replied H they "did not conic .back he -would kill her and then himself.

Proceeding, witness described the visit by the police to Oeta, when they were' notified of the tragedy.The axe was picked up close by where Beckham was lying on thel floor. Bennier was found in an out-! house a few hundred yards away.' Witness arranged for an ambulance' from town and motor-cars from people in the district, to take the Injured persons to the Hospital.