A STRANGE TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 9

A STRANGE TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON WALTER PRICE j YOUNGER SON GIVES COURT DETAILED EVIDENCE COUNSEL CONDUCTS A LENGTHY EXAMINATION [ Per Press Association 1 PALMERSTON N., April 4. The circumstances surrounding the death of Walter Edwin Price, builder, Palmerston North, was the subject of an inquiry by the Coroner (Mr J. L. Stout, S.M.) this morning. Deceased was found dead in his bedroom at his home in Featherston Street, with a gunshot wound near the mouth

Dr. King gave evidence of being called to deceased’s house. The body was on the floor and the head under the bod as far as the chin Deceased was clad in pyjamas with a sheet and a blanket beneath the lower part of the body. The lower part of the left side of tho face was concealed by blood from the mouth. Without disturbing the body there were no obvious marks of violence and no weapon of any description in the room. There was nothing to suggest that deceased met a violent or unnatural death. The body had apparently not been moved since death. A postmortem examination after the cleansing of tho face revealed a wound a rounded hole below the left angle of the mouth the obvious result of a gunshot wound. The track of the missile was traced into the cranial cavitv. Appearances suggested that a shot gun had been fired at point blank range.

A large number of witnesses will be called the proceedings being of r lengthy nature. Continuing his evidence Dr. King said that he telephoned information to the police station and accompanied a constable to deceased’s house. He then informed John Price that his father had met his death through a gunshot wound. A further postmortem examination showed extensive fracturing of the base of the skull had resulted death being instantaneous. A number of slightly irregular lead shot were removed from the brain substance.

“From observations I am of opinion that the evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of death having been caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Firstly deceased met his death where his body was found in a prepared position as suggested by the sheet and blanket beneath him. Tho localisation of blood to the neighbourhood of the head its absence elsewhere and portion of a deptal plate lying two feet form the head confirm the first conclusion.”

, The doctor also stated that the positions of the arms was consistent with those following a self-inflicted wound. Replying to the Coroner witness said that the likelihood of the wound being effected homicidally was remote.

Tho 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 that no evidence has been given by tho three other doctors expressing tho opinion that the wound was self-inflicted. Sidney Tisdal said that from tho size of the wound described the full shot charge was not present and had been considerably reduced. A full charge would have lifted the top of the head off. Proceedings were then adjourned. Younger Son’s Evidence. Deceased’s younger son, John Price, was the first witness to be called after lunch. He stated he was 16 years of age and had passed his matriculation examination on March 4. The day before his father’s death he had home at abpu 4.30 p.m. His father had then been out working at the house next door and had not come inside until 7 o’clock. Deceased then appeared in very good spirits. Witness spent the evening alone with his father, his mother and brothers being absent. They had dined at about 7.15 p.m. and had concluded at about 8 p.m. After dinner witness had settled down to do home work whilst his father had been reading a humorous book in the same room. Witness did not remember having any conversation with his father before he retired to bed, beyond asking him the meaning of a word and whether the clock was correct. He left the dining room at about 9.5 p.m., leaving his father alone, ad had gone to bed. His father had switched on the electric water heater outside the kitchen door. Witness had called out, “Dad,-switch off my light,” and the father had complied. He did not remember thanking his father or saying- good-night to him. Witness thought his father had then gone to the bathroom where it was his habit to undress. He had later heard deceased walking in the passage and switching off the light in his room. Witness had gone to sleep immediately and had not awakened until 8 o’clock the next morning. Heard No Noise. Detective Quirk: Did you hear any noise during the night?—No. Witness said the room was about 12 feet away from that occupied by his father and the bedroom door was open. In the morning he had dressed in his bedroom and had then gone to the kitchen to look at the time. It was then about 8 o’clock. Witness had then gone along the passage to tho bathroom and glancing into his father’s room had seen him lying on the floor. He had gone to the bathroom and on his way back had touched his father’s foot to wake him up. The foot was cold and stiff and he guessed that his father was dead.

His father was in the habit of sleeping on the floor, but on other occasions had had pillows. After touching his father’s foot, witness had gone immediately to the telephone and tried to get into connection with fou r doctors He could, not remember their names, but in each instance a woman had answered the 1 ’phone. He remembered that two or three of the doctors had been engaged and one was on holiday. He spent about three minutes phoning and was unable to get any doctors. He had |:en gone across the road to Mr Nagel’s place. Miss Nagel had answered the door and

she had told him that her father was in the back yard. His only words to Miss Nagel had been,- “Father is dead.” He hud then gone round to tho back yard and had said to Mr Nagel, “My father is dead.” Witness did not remember anything else being said. With Mr Nagel and a Mr Brogden he had returned home. Mr Nagel had succeeded in reaching a doctor, and when the doctor arrived he had gone into the bedroom with Mr Brogden and Mr Nagel. Afterwards the doctor had told witness that his father’s death was probably due to haemorrhage, following an ulcerated stomach.

Tho police had been communicated with and later a constable arrived. Witness remained around the house while the constable went inside. In the evening Dr King had returned with the constable and had asked witness whethei there was a gun in the house. He told the doctor thtt there was a pea-rifle in the garage and this weapon had been procured. About five minutes later he was told that his father had been shot, but ho could tiot remember who had told him. He remembered a conversation with the constable at about 8.30 p.m. in the morning. Ho remembered remarking that he would have to leave the high school in the meantime, but had said that his mother would be all right because his father was insured. Spoke to Little Boy He had spoken to a little boy Kay Wilson, between 4.30 and 5 p.m. and had told him that his father was dead. The little boy had nt first laughed and had then gone inside and told his mother. Later, when witness was feeding the fowls, ho saw the boy Wilson again. Ho could not remember whether or not ho fed the fowls before tho doctor and policeman came. Detective Quirk: What did you say? Witness: I think I said, “You will not see my father again.” Detective Quirk: Did you mention anything to tho boy about your lather’s being shot?—No.. Did you ever tell the boy your ather was shot?—l don’t remember that.

Do you remember a conversation with Mr Nagel, when you mentioned the word “hanged,”—No. Do you remember telling Miss Nagel that you couldn’t be hanged.—Yes. She said, “I would not like to be in your shoes, John,” and I said “I couldn’t be hanged for that.”

In replying to Mr Innes, witness stated that he always had been on affectionate terms with his parents. His father was on affectionate terms with his mother.

Witness knew his father’s life was insured, as the insurance agent had come to the house on several occasions. He remembered his father saying to his mother: <‘l am insured now. We have JK) need to worry about the future.” He had known that an insurroice policy became void if a person committed suicide, although he did not know that the term specified was within 12 months. He did not know where he had obtained this information. It was just general knowledge. Had No Enemies. Mr Innes: Were you out on your bicycle the night your father'died? M itness (after a perceptible pause) Mr Innes: Why do you hesitate?— l am just retailing. Do you know any reason why your father should destroy himself?—No. He had no enemies as far as you know?—No. The night your father died you say you heard nothing,, although the doors of both your father’s room and your own wore open.—Witness: Yes, sir. On the Sunday before, I hurt my wrist and could not sleep the next two nights. I slept very soundly that night. Mr Innes: Do I understand you saw your father’s bare foot, touched it and without further inquiry knew he was dead?—Yes. The Coroner: What was the reason? Had you seen him before?—l touched his foot. It was stiff and cold. I knew it was death immediately. Mr Innes: You have nothing to say about that?—No.

Have you formed any conclusion how your father died? —My father would not kill himself. How do you know that?—Because he was in such good spirits. He was reading a very humorous book, “The Card” by Arnold Bennett.

Mr Innes: You say you were never out of the house that night. Can you explain why yen did not hoar the shot fired a few feet away —Witness: No. I sleep heavily on occasions and I sleep sometimes with the bankets over my head.

To Mr Cooper witness stated that he had g< ne only one step into the bedroom and no further. From that position ho could sec the whole of his father’s body.

• Mr Cooper: Did you say anything to him —I couldn’t say. 1 don’t remember. 4

The Coroner: Did your father sleep on the floor without taking the mattress off the bed? —Yes, when my mother was away.

Mr Cooper: On the few occasions when you had seen him sleeping on the floor had you ever seen him sleeping with his head under the bod.—No. Would Deny Statement. Did you tell the boy, Kaye Wilson, that your father was shot?—l am certain that I did not. I do not remember. If the boy Wilso: comes here and says you told him that your father was shot, would you deny it? —I would deny it. (Continued on Page 5).