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INQUEST ON MURDER VICTIMS

Wairoa Tragedy In August POLICE INVESTIGATIONS NOT CLOSED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WAIROA, January 19.

Tlie inquest was opened this morning on tlie bodies of Brigadier Annie Smyth and her sister Rosamund, whose bodies were found in the Salvation Army Hull on August 21. The district coroner, Mr. V. I. Winter, presided and tlie proceedings were conducted by Chief Detective Young. Before proceeding with tlie hearing Mr. Young stated Unit though tlie inquest was being held, it did uot mean that the case would be closed. Investigations would be curried on till the culprit was brought to justice. However, tlie police were now in a position to say when, where and how the crime was committed. The first witness called was Philip Patrick Lynch, medical practitioner mid consulting pathologist, who described injuries causing the death of the two women. The brigadier's body was in the kitchen. There were extensive injuries to the left side of the head from which there had been profuse haemorrhage. Rosamund's body was found in the back bedroom with woiinds on the head from which the blood had run down, forming a pool on the lloor. The clothing, of both victims was disarranged, but neither woman had been interfered witl|. A post-mortem examination of the brigadier disclosed three ragged wounds iu the region of the left temple. These could be made by a blunt instrument. When the scalp was removed it was found that the skull in this situation was badly shattered, being associated with much laceration of the brain substance. There were no’injuries about the face or hands and nothing to indicate that she had made any attempt to protect herself. Rosamund’s post-mortem disclosed several wounds in tlie head which could have been caused by a poker, and the presence of hairs and blood on a poker found strongly suggested that this had been used. On the crown of tlie head was a split in the scalp 2-J inches long, with wide separation of the edges, which had apparently been done by an axe discovered on the premises. Discovery of Gag. Rosamund had been gagged, but this was not tied and could have had no useful purpose. The appearance of the bodies indicated that the deaths had occurred two weeks previously. Dr. Lynch said he formed the opinion that the disarrangement of the clothing was rather deliberate or methodical and that the picture was fabricated, as it were, either for the purpose of doing a deliberate indignity to the bodies or of diverting attention from the true motive of the crime, or from the identity of the assailant. Horace Gilbert Martieh, exchange clerk, gave evidence to the effect that he had noticed that the lights were on in the building on several nights. When returning from duty at 1 a.m. on August 18 he visited the barracks to borrow a rug, but received no response to his knocks. He went lignin the next night, and met a similar experience. On August 21 he was approached by a neighbour, who expressed concern over the non-appearance of the brigadier and her sister. lie still did not take any action to make investigations. Replyins to the coroner, he said he had intended to inform the police the next morning, but in the meantime the bodies were discovered. Mrs. May Topham Hunn described how she visited’the barracks on Sunday, August 9, entering by the back door when she found the front locked. She passed, through the kitchen and went to the meeting room, where she spent an hour in prayer. She jiassed back through tlie passage on her way to gain exit ami failed to see the body of the brigadier in a chair in the corner in spite of the fact that the evidence disclosed that the victim was then there. Saw Body in Chair.

An eight-year-old girl. Donna Scott, stilted she and other children were playing near the hall on August 9 when she decided to enter the building by the back door. She did so and was confronted by the body of tlie brigadier lying dead in the chair. The reason she did not inform any of her iz.iymates or her parents was that she was too frightened Juevertheless, she went on playing with her pals, who were throwing dirt in an open window, she replying by throwing pillows out. at them, which were returned. She believed the body in the chair was that of Ro-samund. , At. Hie conclusion ot the evidence the coroner returned n verdict that the Smyths met their deaths at the hands of a person or persons unknown. He extended sympathy to the relatives and also congratulated the police on the manner in which they hud handled the case.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19430120.2.27

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
790

INQUEST ON MURDER VICTIMS Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 4

INQUEST ON MURDER VICTIMS Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 4

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