MURDERED BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANT

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1949, Page 8

MURDERED BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANT

' Press Association)

Inqufry Into Death Of Wairoa fflan

(Per

WAIROA, Oct. 5. Just on 10 months after flnding the body With. severe head woulids 111 a, whare just outside the borough boundary, the inquest on Herbert William Brunton was resumed this morning. A Jengthv comiuent was made by the Goroner, Mr L. Gr. H* Sinelair, S.M., at the conclusion o£ the evidence. He stated that the enquiry was for the purposiof aseertaining how, wheu and where Brunton met his death. Whilst BrUn ton had suffered grievoqs injuries, at the same time that could not be eonstrued to niean he had been murdered. It may have been a ease of manslaughter or even justiflable homicide. Mr Sinelair said he mentioned tlm matter in the interest of the publie tor it.vvould not be right to assuine the maii had been murdered. The nature of tli., injuries had shown that the deceased had been assailed by a person with ai. aye and it" was a fair conclusion to claim that the blood-stained axe founu was the instrument which caused the injuries to Brunton 's head. Mr Sinelair then returned a forma verdict that deceased had died at Wai roa on the night of Deceinber 16 or 17. ks the result of injuries receiveii through being struck about the head by an Unknown assailant armed with an axe, the eause of death being shock and haemorrahage. Torch at Window. Oharles Roger French, aged 73, retir ed bachelor, owner of the section 011 which Brunton 's hut stands, called b.\ the Coroner, said Brunton, who was married and living apart from his Wife, had occupied the liut upwanls of nim years. The Jast time he had seen deceas ed alive was about 5.30 when Bruntou and another person had come to wit ness's hut, leaving within five minutes. Witness retired at 9 p.m. and after sleeping approximately four hours, wa> awakened by a torch being shono through the window. Ile inquired wlm was there but did not hear anv reply, possibly due to his deafness. When lu left his bed the person disappeared from the window so he switched on his light and on opening the liut doot, found a stranger outside. Witness continued: "I said, 'what's your business' and received the reply 'Maori or Marie.' The person then pointed the torch in the direction oi deceased 's hut and I said, Brunton

lives there. The person then baekeci away from the door which 1 closed, 'and I returned to bed." Witness then described the person Who came to his hut, expressing the belief it was a Maori woiiian dressed in man's clothing. Brunton was an earlv riser and a? he did not come to French 's hut at the usual hour, he went over and found a pool of blood at the door. After further investigation he found deceased in a sitting position in a room. He noted several deep gashes in the head and immediately sent for the police. Brunton was not an aggressive man but addicted to drink and they were alwavs on friendly tenns. Witness was unable to understand why anvone should wisii to take the victim's life. Witness stated he had written a note to deceased who knew its contents, and while waiting for the police arrivai he had thrown it in the fire. The note appealed to Brunton to pull himself together and to do a bit in regard to cleaning- up the section. Wide Police Search ioned at Hastings, who detailed the Detective Alan Purdie Jesson, statactivities of the police from outside centres after their arrivai at Wairoa, said no fewer than.5000 sets of fingerprints had been taken whilst the area up to a distance of 30 miles had been visited with the view of securing information which would lead to the identitv of the assailant. Dr. Debden Wilkins said he had been called bv the police to Kaimoana Road early in the morning of December 17

where he found the body" of deceased propped up m ti cor-ner, Brunton having suffered sOvere head injuries. Bloodstains were also found on the floors, walls and bedding. Against the hearth in the hut 'was found an axe which. he believed was used in the attack. There was very little blood on the' floor where the body was found bul there were large amounts on the bed clothes and pillow. Also there was an impression on the pillow indicating that it had been lain on. Witness Was pre sent when Dr. Somerville carried oul a post-mortem examination at the hos' pital morgue and agreed with his find /ings. Dr. Mark Graham Somerville, palhologist of the Hawke's Bay Hospitai Board, gave evidence of liaving examined the body at the hut and latei carrying out a post-mortem. 'After the removal of the body he had inspected the hut and found bloodstains on the outside door and a further large amouni of blood, maiuly eongealed, on the flooi near the outside door. On the ledge had been tound a small piece of bone which subsequentiy proved to be part of tiu skull, whilst on the floor entering tiusecond door was found a piece oi 'brain matter. Tftere were further blood stains ^.bout the floor and also on tin axe lying against the stove, it being smeared with bloodstains and had hait> adhering to it. He believed Bruntoi. had flrst beeri attacked in the doorway and the victitu then went to the lava torv for bloodstains had been found on the floor, seat, iron walls and door oi that outhouse. In support of. that claim Dr. Somerville stated there had been cases where severe injuries had been in flicted and injured persons had carrieu out movements sueh as walking a con siderable distance. It was quite possibk Brunton was not even rendered uncon scious despite the severity of hiwounds which did not involve injurie:to vital parts of the brain and the amount of blood discovered in the porch would not constitute a serious loss. The post-mortem had disclosed he had suffei ed upwards of 15 wounds, chiefly on the head and arnis, and death was due to shock and haemorrhage. Inspector Murpliy: Would deceasen following his injuries, be capable oi going to the nearby hut occupied b\ French, to seek assistance? French hut is only 15 yards away whilst the lavatory is 25 yards distant. Dr. Somerville: As he appeared cap able of going to the lavatory then he vvould be capable of going to the hut. Mr Sinelair: For assistance? Dr. Sunierville: Yes, but whethei Brunton would be capable of formmg the necessary judgment would be ditfa cult to say. Mr Sinelair: Deceased may have boer confused or dazed. Dr. Somerville: Yes.