THE FERNRIDGE TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 300, 13 September 1920, Page 6

THE FERNRIDGE TRAGEDY

MURDER AND SUICIDE

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

Br Telegraph-Prosß Association. Masterton, September 11 Mr. E. G. Eton, .District Coroner, held an inquest on Saturday afternoon on the bodies of Gavin M'Kenzie, who was murdered in a shecking manner on Thursday lust, mid Edward John Hay, the eighteen-year-old farm boy who perpetrated the deed at the resideuco of the M'Kenzie tomily, Fernridge.

L'ormal evidence was given on the lines already published.

J. IJineen, probation officer for the Wollington district, said Hay was always regarded as a bright, industrious, honest boy, and had given him every satisfaction, likewise the employers who had had him for four years previous to entering tho employment of Georgo M'Kenzie. Witness had it on reliable authority that Hay's father also committed suicide. His employers gave Hay an excellent character

Another witness said he saw Hay and the little boy playing in a paddock about 1.15 o'clock, and they wero apparently quite happy and contented. Witness waved to them, and they returned his salutation, but ho was 100 far distant to speak to them. Formal evidence was also given by tho police, who conducted the search and discovered the bodies in circumstances previously reported. After hearing other evidence on similar lines, tho Coroner verdict regarding the little boy to the effect that the deceased, Gavin George M'Kenzie, died from injuries received from n blow from an axe, delivered by one Edward William John Hay, the said blow causing a deep wound nt the back of the head, and was the cause of death. He was killed by the decensed Hay some time between 11 o'clock and 2 o'clock on Thursday, September 9, on the property of his fathor, George M'Kenzie, farmer, at Fernridge. The Coroner also found that tho deceased Hay was not of normal intelligence. The Coroner cciweyed his personal and heartfelt sympathy, and' that of the whole district to the afflicted parents in connection with the tragedy, which, ho said, was viewed with horror in all parts of the Dominion. A verdict of suicide was returned in reference to Hav, death having been caused by the filing of a loaded shotgun attached to n bootlace, thereby ■ causing instantaneous *rhe little victim was- buried in the Masterton cemetery this afternoon, and a large concourse followed, the remains to the 8 grave, where pathetic scenes were witnessed. The great sympathy of tho whole district was testified by tho large attendance at the funeral.