HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 October 1929, Page 5

HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

INQUEST ON VICTIMS

INTERESTING EVIDENCE,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) FOXTON, Tuesday.

After hearing lengthy medical evidence regarding the identification of tho eight victims of the Himatangi fire on September 11, Detective H. H. Russell detailed an examination of the ruins and’the location and removal of the remains. . He discovered a doublebarrelled shot gun in Westlake’s bedroom. lie discovered twelve shot cartridgeSj eleven of which had been fired by percussion. In reply to Mr Peterson, he said there were no cartridges in the breech of the gun when it was found. He could not say whose skull it was with the hole in it.

Several other witnesses gave evidence and the inquest was adjourned till to-morrow, when thirteen witnesses will give further evidence.

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

FOXTON, This Day

On resuming the enquiry this morning, James George Coley, labourer, of Foxton, deposed to seeing Westlake on the morning of the tragedy, and later in the afternoon, riding back to his farm, between 4 and 6 o’clock.

William Maurice Griffin said that he knew Westlake and Wright. He spoke to both a few days before the tragedy. They always appeared to be on good terms with each other, but a day or so before the fire he was standing on a ridge with field glasses, looking over his sheep, and saw three men outside Westlake’s house, whom he took to be Westlake, Wright and Thomson. The man taken for Thomson walked away from the other two, and ran back. This was repeated several times. Witness thought they were having a quarrel. To Mr Poterson: There was nothing to show that others were participating. He could not swear that the three men were the occupants of tho house. He watched the scene for two or three minutes from tho ridge half a mile away. In witness’s last conversation with Westlake, the latter said that Wright was one of the fairest men he had ever met.

Alfred Robert Crowe, farm labourer ton Barber’s Estate, and the former owner of the far taken over by Westlake, .said that lie sold out in February of this year. There was then only a two-roomed whare on the place—22 feet by 12, and divided into two rooms. Witness detailed the additions made to the building by Westlake, and the location of the homestead. He considered it impossible for a stranger to find the place at night. Westlake paid cash for tho property. Witness was quite satisfied with the deal, lie knew no one anxious to get the place from Westlake. He knew no one who bore malice against any member of the household.

A DEATH TRAP. Detective H. Russell re-entered the box, producing a medical certificate as to the unfitness of Robert Moles, a former share-milker on Westlake’s farm, to attend the inquest. A statement read intimated that Moles was on wages. Westlake carted the timber for the additions. When finished, the house was a death-trap. The windows were nailed so that they -would only open six inches. Some had boards across. Westlake was very even-tempered, and he saw him only once aroused during Moles’ term. Westlake was blind in one eye, and almost blind in the other. He had to be met when returning to the farm, and assisted to a tent at night. John King Stratford, a farmer, and sharemilker on Westlake’s farm, said that he left tho farm because the house was not fit to live in. Witness took the nails out of the windows. Westlake was a peculiar man. MRS HOWE’S EVIDENCE.

Eileen Mary Howe, a married woman, of Palmerston North, said she knew all the parties well. She was a confidant of Mrs Wright who told her that her husband "was worried over financial matters a year before ho left Rongotea and could not sleep. He used to get up at nights and mako tea. One night Mr and Mrs Wright had a row, and Thomson got up to separate them. Wright told his wife, on two occasions, that he would take his life. On the occasion of the difference Wright pulled all the pictures down in tho sitting room.

Mr Petersen objected to this evidence, but the objection was not sustained by the Coroner. Witness said at times Wright would talk like a gentleman, but at other times was very peculiar and not normal. Mr 3 Wright was a good, hardworking woman. Thomson was a simple lad, devoted to the family. Westlake was very straight-forward, upright and exact.