DAVENPORT FAMILY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 263, 6 November 1934, Page 6

DAVENPORT FAMILY

VERDICT AT INQUEST MURDERED BY HENARE HONA. [ Per Tress Association. J TE KUITI, Nov. 5. At the adjourned inquest ou the Davenport family the coroner, Air. K. Al. Homerville, brought in a verdict that German Martin and Alice Davenport, and their two sons, Edward Lancashire and Albert David, were murue.ed by Henare Hona ou October 'J. Evidence was given by Joseph ATasker, employed, ou the I arm. He said that he spoke to the parents on the previous night at 5-30 p.m. and all were well. Constable Rose said that at 8.50 on October 9 he telephoned Davenport senior that a Mauri had left Major Westuiacolt's that morning tin eaten mg to commit suicide and he asked that the police be informed if a man vveie seen in the locality. Davenport said . be was worried over .the message, as a man answering to the description had arrived at the house in a state of collapse and had said that his sou Edward, who was working on a slip on the road some distance away, had been killed by some pakeha. Davenport said that, 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 sou Albert, who was working some distance from the house. He gave both a rifle and they went towards the slip. Davenport said the Maori was very excited and upset, and the two had not returned. Davenport said that he and his wife would remain in the house. Constable Rose said he rang rhe Davenports at 9.20 p.m., but could get no answer. Witness then described the finding of Edward 50 feet down the bank unconscious. Edward Davenport, a cousin of the voting victims, identified the revolver with which Constable Heeps was snot at. Morrinsville as belonging to the Davenport family. This was corroborated by Sergeant Paine, arms officer al To Kmti. Hona a Cheerful Worker. Major Westmacott, employer of Hona, said he was a cheerful worker, but a few days prior Mrs. Kitty .Joseph related how, owing to her finding a letter of Hona’s saying that he was going to commit suicide, her husband had removed the bolt from the .303 rifle whi'ch was kept in the house where Hona stayed. On October 9, just after breakfast. Hona disappeared and a search was organised. H. O. King! related how he and Moses Anderson spent the night of October 9 in the hut known as the Tonga's Whare, and To 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 Ha Maori whom he later believed was Henare Hona, boarded the 7.15 a.m. train at Kiokio fol the north. Constable G. Fry gave evidence that, he fruitlessly searched for Hona after receiving news of his threatening to commit suicide from Major Westma*cott. Deaths of Victims. Detective White said that firearms were found by both the bodies of Mrand 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 an injury. Albe l *!. Davenport was next shot on the track to the Tonga’s Whare. The .22 rifle with which he was shot was found in the debris of the fire.