TAIHAPE MAN’S DEATH FROM A BULLET WOUND

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 November 1949, Page 8

TAIHAPE MAN’S DEATH FROM A BULLET WOUND

Strange Circumstances; Coroner Returns An Open Verdict

Whether Dudley Walter Everingham, aged 32, depot superintendent in Taihape for Vacuum Oil Company, found lying on the road near Winiata early on the morning of September 20 with a bullet wound in his forehead, died from an injury accidentally or self-inflicted, is a point which may never be elected up. ...Everingham died in the Wanganui Hospital on the afternoon of the same day, and when an inquest was held yesterday, the coroner, Mr. S. M. Dixon, said that as there was no conclusive evidence on either point ,he would leave the verdict entirely open.

Sergeant A. Carlyon represented the police and witnesses called included three doctors, one of whom said that he was unabl e to say from a post-mor-tem examination alone, whether the wound was inflicted accidentally, suicidely or feloniously. Giving evidence for the police, however, Sergeant R. Griffiths (Taihape) said that a careful examination of Everingham’s car, parked nearby with its lights burning, disclosed no signs of a scuffle or another party being present. The coroner returned a verdict that Everingham’s death was due to a gunshot wound, such injury being inflicted by a bullet from a .22 rifle, there being no evidence to show how the firearm was discharged. Mr. C. F. Treadwell appeared for the relatives. MEDICAL EVIDENCE. Dr. D. L. Sinclair (Taihape), who examined Everingham on the roadside shortly after 6 a.m., described th e injuries and said that he had the man removed to the Taihape Hospital, where an X-ray examination of the skull showed fragments of metal widely dispersed throughout the area of the cranium. As trepanning of the skull appeared necessary, the injured man was transferred by ambulance to the General Hospital, Wanganui, the same morning. He was deeply unconscious and his symptoms pointed to severe cerebral injury with some paralysis of th e left arm and right leg. When admitted to the Wanganui Hospital, Everingham had an entry wound of a bullet above the inner margin of the left eye, said Dr. D. A. Larnder. In spite of treatment, the patient did not recover consciousness and died, at 4.30 p.m. the same day. A post-mortem examination he carried out was described hv Dr. D. V.v McGregor, who said tnat th e dire I ion of the path of he oullet was almost a true line from front to back and slightly upward from the point of entry. The firearm, was not discharged in direct contact with the skin. “As to whether the wound was inflicted accidentally, suicidally or feloniously I am unable to say from the post-mortem examination alone,’’ witness added. “In my opinion, death was due to cerebral lacerations caused by a bullet, seemingly the size of a .22 calibre.” Cross-examined by Mr. Treadwell, witness said that the wound could have been inflicted in any one of the three ways he had mentioned. EVENING IN LEVIN. Sydney Charles Franklin, depot manager for the Vacuum Oil Company, and residing at 36 Bath Street. Levin, said that he had known Everingham since October, 1946. “He spent the evening of September 19 at my hom e and then appeared to be in good health and was quite bright and cheerful, as he usually was, ’ witness added. “He was quite sober and no drinking took place at my home. He did not tell me that he had a rifle in his car, but on a previous occasion we had discussed the number of opossums and rabbits that were to be seen on the road at night between Bulls and Taihape, and it was then mentioned that one should carry a rifle in the car to shoot some of them. I knew nothing about his financial circumstances. He has never at any time indicated that he has wanted to borrow any money.” Everingham left Levin at 10.10 p.m. and mentioned that it would take three to three and a-half hours to reach Taihape. “Knowing him as I did,” witness added, “I do not consider that he was a person who would take his own life. If he had had any worries, I am sure he would hav e confided in me.” Cross-examined by Mr. Treadwell, witness said that after Everingham went to Taihape, he saw him frequently. Mr. Treadwell: Had he done any shooting before?

Witness: Yes, he had done a little shooting. Witness added that Everingham had confided in him in the past and was sur e that had he been in any trouble

he would have done so again. Witness I said that he was definite that Ever- 1 ingham was not the type of person to take his own fife. FOUND LYING ON ROAD. The finding of Everingham lying on the roadway with an injury to his forehead was described by Charles Henry Hirton Moorman, who delivers the “Wanganui Chronicle” daily in Taihape and district. Witness said that at about 6 a.m. on September 20 the headlights of his car showed up ar. object lying on the roadside two and a-half miles south of Taihape. Nearby was a parked car with the lights burning. Witness stopped and found that the object on the road was a man lying on his left-hand side. ”1 turned him over and saw that he was injured about the forehead, ’ witness added. ‘When 1 looked around to see what may have caused the injury I saw that the front door of the car was open and a rifle lying on the floor of the car, with the barrel projecting through the doorway. The door appeared to have been closed against the barrel of the rifle.” The man was unconscious and apparently seriously injured. Witness did not move him, but covered him with an Army greatcoat and went tn a nearby house and telephoned for a doctor. ‘He did not see any other vehicles or persons on the road at or near the scene of this occurrence. There were not many rabbits on this part of th e road, but they were to be found -further back toward Hunterville, SERGEANT’S EVIDENCE Sergeant Roy Griffiths (Taihape) said that, shortly after 6 a.m. on September 20, as a result of information received from C. H. H. Moorman, he and Constable Chesnutt set put for Winiata Road, south of Taihape. At a point two and three-quarter miles from Taihape they found a car parked on its correct side of the road facing Taihape, with the left wheels on the edge of the bitumen surface. The lights of the car were burning, but the engine was cold. The doors of car wer e closed. Across the floor of the car at the front, witness saw a .22 calibre Browning repeating rifle with the muzzle touching the inside of the front right door. The safety catch of th e rifle was on the firing position. There was a fired shell in the breach and five cartridges in the magazine.

Witness described finding a spot of blood on th e driver’s seat and a small spot of blood on the foresight of the rifle. There was also a congealed patch of blood on the bitumen surface of the roadway about two feet, six inches from the car and in line wltrthe windscreen. Traces of blood were found in rain pools on the road. Heavy rain had fallen and it was believed that Everingham had been lying where found for two or three hours. “I made a careful examination of the car but was unable to find anything about it that might assist police inquiries,” said witness. “Everything about the car appeared to be In a norma! state and there was no sign of a scuffle in the car and nothing to indicate that there had been more than one passenger.” POLICE INQUIRIES. Police inquiries showed that Everingham hired a car from Nicholson Motors, Taihape, on the morning of September 19, 1949, stating that he was going to Levin on his company’s business. On the sam e morning he bor rowed a rifle, stating that he was going to Palmerston North and might get a shot at a rabbit on the way back. >he owner reluctantly loaned the rifle, refusing ammunition. Everingham, however, purchased a packet of .22 hollow point bullets in Taihape. From the ammunition found in the car it would appear that only one shot was fired and that this shot caused his death. The rifle was subsequently examined by the police arms and ballistics expert, Senior-Sergeant G. Kelly (Wellington) who found that it could only be fired by a backward pressure of 6j lb on the trigger. “The rifle was in new condition and could not b§ set off by banging it against anything,” witness added, producing Senior-Sergeant Kelly’s report, which stated that no fault could be found with the rifle. Everingham had been working at the Taihape depot of the Vacuum Oil Company for the past two years. During recent months he had been drinking heavily and seemed to be moody, but as far as could be ascertained had not intimated' any intention of commiting suicide. About 12 months ago Everingham became secretary of the Air Force Club in Taihape and the annual general meeting was to have been held at the end of September, witness stated. Examination of the club's books discuosed that he had not kept any records of receipts and expenses, and it appeared that, there was a shortage of about £4O in the club’s funds. He made several attempts to borrow money from persons in Taihape shortly before his death, but was unsuccessful. There was no shortage of money at the Vacuum Oil Company’s depot, where everything was found to be in order. “There Is a possibility that Everingham met his death by accident but from inquiries it appears that ho was not a sporting man, was never known to go out shooting, nor to have discussed shooting, and on this occasion he came through an area wher e rabbits are plentiful (Hunterville and Man.gaweka) into a locality (Winiatawhere rabbits are scarce and here is fatally injured by the first shot from a borrowed rifle,” said witness. WELL LIKED IN DISTRICT. “He was a single man, aged 31 years, in receipt of a good salary a nd having no dependants. He was very well liken and was not known to have any bad friends. From my inquiries it would appear that he met. his death by accident or suicide; th&re do not. appear any circumstances in connection with this fatality which suggest that any other person was involved.” Cross-examined by Mr. Treadwell, witness said that he know Everingham personally. There was no suggestion that ho would be drinking during working. hours. An-.- drinking would he confined to an evening among his friends and at week-ends. Mr. TreadweM: And that is a common failing among many reputable citizens? Witness: I’m afraid so. Mr. Treadwell: I’m afraid so, too. Witness said that Everingham wa?> secretary of the Air Force Club for 11' months. No records were kept, and money was missing it could h'.ivo been due Io muddlemenl. “To be quite, frank I don’t think it would b. 1 duo to dishonesty," witness added. “He han a reputation for being quite aii honest chap.” The coroner returned an open verdict, as stated.