SHOT IN BACK

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19909, 11 June 1936, Page 7

SHOT IN BACK

SETTLER MURDERED. KILLID AT CLOSE RANGE. BU'i‘ii LUNGS PENETRATED. OPENINL‘. OF Tilt: INIJI'EST. KAIK'JHE, Wednesday. lhot In the hook at close range, a well-known North Auckland tumor. Mr lrnut Severln Nelson, marl-led. aged 88. wu murdered on a lonely drlvo loadlno to hls houeo It Welhou Valley, about two mile. from Olulheu last. night. it was very dark when the crime was committed, at about 1.30 o‘clock. The moon had not risen and it was raining. .\lr .\‘eison‘s body was found over No hours later on the metalied drive. which runs up nearly a mile fmm the main road to the house. There was no sign of a gun in the ‘ vicinity. Following his usual custom, Mr Nelson left his house last evening to collect his mail from the letter—box on the main road. He had apparently reached the box, taken out the mail, and proceeded 100 yards on his return 4 Journey when the shot was tired. Struck on Left 'Bhouldor. The charge struck him Just below the left shoulder blade, and passed through the ieit lung into the right lung. The only trees growing on the drive near the spot where the body was ' found were two cabbage trees and a rambler bush. it seems likely that the assailant was hiding behind the rambler bush. which would bring Mr Nelson within a rango or three yards as he passed along the drive. The nature of the wound also bears out the fact that the shot was tired at close range. it was not more than 2m. in diameter, showing that the shot had not gone far enough to spread. At the same time the gun was not sufllciently near to cause any burning. Mr Nelson was still clutching the letters he had taken from the box in his hand when found. There was no money in his pockets. but it is not thought he had any when he left the house. law Nothing Unusual. One of the last people to see Mr Nelson alive was Ken Howe, son of Mr and Mrs E. N. Howe, share-milkers on the farm. lie had gone down to the letter-box not long before to collect a paper and offered to so down again to get the mail, but Mr Nelson said he would so. He saw nothing unusual when he was down the drive. The Ihot was heard by employees at the farm. but they paid no atten—tion to it, as it was thought someone was shooting rabbits. The body was found by Mrs J. Smith. stepmother of the dead man's wife, at about it) o‘clock. .\lrs Nelson had driven oysr to her parents‘ place at Hansiahau by car, and while she remained behind. Mr and Mrs Smith draw back to aski Mr Nelson if the car could be taken‘ 4m Rawene the following day. Mrs Smith was on her way to the house when she came upon .\lr Nelson‘s body. Constable Robertson, of Kaikohc, was at once informed of the murder and he proceeded to the scene Willi Dr. N. McLean. In the early hours: of the morning inspector O‘Hara. Senior—Sergeant Finch. and Detective Nalder. or Whangarel, Constable Ryan. of Ohacawai. .\lr 'l‘. J. V. Dunlap. district coroner. and Dr. H. F. Buckley. 0! Whanaarei. arrived. No trace or a gun or a discharged cartridge could be found. lnquut Opened. An inquest was opened before Mr Dunlop this torning. Evidence of identitlcation was given by the decenscd‘s brother. William Sigt’rid Neison. of Pakaraka. He said that he last saw his brother in good health and spirits on April 20. Deceased had married a half-caste girl named Smith last February. Disapproval at the marriage had been expressed in certain quarters. Deceased's wife had left home on one occasion as there was insumcient room for her family and the family of share~miikers. She returned later. The inquest was adjourned sine dic. A post-mortem examination was performed later by Dr. Buckley and Dr. McLean. Extensive investimtions were cari'il‘d out in the district to-day by the police party. undrr the direction of inspector U‘llara. but no developments had been reported to-nhrht. There is a possibility that the party will be reinforced later,