THE KAIAPOI TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2779, 25 May 1916, Page 4

THE KAIAPOI TRAGEDY

AN open verdict. Br Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, May 21. r The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Holland,' of Kaiapoi, on May 11, was continued to-day. "Nathan L. Thompson, junr., a fisher, man at Kaiapoi, said ho wont past Holland's house at 10 p.m. on May 11, and heard two pounds from the house. The sounds were peculiar, something like a sneeze. He stopped at Holland's front Rate, and heard a sound as, if a chair was being moved in the house. There was a light inside the window facing the north. He stood at the gate for a moment. A dog barked in Holland's place. He saw no person at all, and went on to his boat, returning about, fire o'clock.in the morning of May 12. He came past Holland's house again, nj> Raven Street. The light was still burning behind the same window, and the dog barked again at witness. Considerable evidence was given, but no new facts were 'adduced. The Coroner said it was one of those extraordinary cases which cropped up occasionally. Apparently there was no motive for the crime, and. at nresent no suspicions were directed towards any person. He could only return ail open verdict that flach of the deceased died at Kaiapoi on May 11, 1016, from shook a»d from haemorrhage on the brain, tho result of injuries inflicted upon them by some person or persons to the Coroner unknown.