INQUEST.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 August 1913, Page 3

INQUEST.

The Kaimata Tragedy. [j'Klt L'KESS ASSOCIATION.] Inglewood, This Day. The inquest on the remains of the victims of the recent Kaimata tragedy was commenced this morning, before Mr AY. Kenrieh, S.M., coroner. The first witness was I*l. Taylor, a carpenter, who gave evidence as to alterations made in the house after it was purchased from Virgin. % Sergeant ll.nddroll was the next witness. He said he visited the scene in company with other police, and he described the positions of the remains of the victims, which Dr. Nutting pronounced to be (hose of two males and one female. Virgin, who slept in the house the same night, slill was missing. Although search and inquiry had been made, they failed to lind a trace of him. Tho inquest is proceeding. LATER KA'IDENCE.

F. Doughty gave, evidence that Frank Smith proceeded to AVarea on .Monday, August 11th, to remove the furniture of Julian to Kaimata. Saw him bade at the lv\press Company's yard in Now Plymouth on tho Wednesday following. He said he was going to Kaimata with furniture. Had not seen him since. On the following day witness went to AA aimata for a loam and waggon, which was partly loaded with furniture, to bo delivered to Virgin's. The lorry and horses wore (he ones Smith was'driving on tho previous day. He recognised the photograph produced as Smith's.

Yernor .lulian, the lad who.es- I caped from the burning building, said he knew the man \ irgiu: first saw him when he came to Warea a month ago to see his father and look at the farm. Knew from his lather that he was going to leave the farm a< Warea and go to Virgin's at Kaimata. His father and Virgin appeared to be on good terms. Remembered Monday, 1 Ith August. A man came to remove his father's goods. During conversation he said his name was Frank. His Father's furniture was loaded and taken away next day. His sister Dorothy and himself started to take cattle to Ivaimata. He went to Oakura thai night, and arrived at Kainiata next evening. Saw Frank at Kaimata with the furniture. Reached the house at Kaimata about 7 o'clock. His sister Gladys, his father, the driver and Virgin were there. 'Virgin, the driver, and Gladys had tea before thexarrived, and Dorothy, his father, and himself had tea together. Virgin had left the premises five minutes after they arrived : he returned for about half an hour during the evening. Hi? sister Gladys played the piano and Dorothy sang. His In titer assisted Virgin to make a case for Virgin's goods. They were talking together, and appeared to be good friends. Witness went to bed about half-past eight. lie slept in the dining-room. His father and Frank occupied the same room, with a sofa between them. When the light was out the room was not in total darkness. He saw his fa (her and Frank go to bed. He was awakened during the night by hearing Ins two sisters screaming: (hey were singing out for dad. A little while after a man walked out of their room, ( went to his father's bed and struck something on the head of tin , bed. but witness did not know what, lie did not hit the floor. After the blow he heard a voice say "1 J I get up." The voice was not his father's.. Another blow was struck after the voice called out : then silence. lie crawled under the sofa and never fell any blow. The man came and felt all over where he had been lying. While under the sofa he heard a gurgling voice. The man went into the kitchen. Witness crawled from under the sofa and tried to rouse his dad, but got no answer, lie felt convinced that he shook his father. There was someone else in the bed. Me knew it was the driver. Mlood was on the floor and on his father's face. Some was on witness's arm and leg. When he failed to rouse his father he ran out of the room on to the verandah. He did not notice any light anywhere until he got outside, when he saw a light in the kite-hen like a candle. Then he Yi\w to the trees, and pulled oft his white shirt to prevent the man seeing him and being able to follow. Witness and his .sister stayed a few seconds, listening, find then ran down tho track rond. When half way down the road towards Death's house they saw a blazp in their room come out. They went to Death's place and told him. Five minutes' alter his sister Doi rothy arrived at Death's they then discovered for the first- time- that she. was hurt over the right eye and the hack of the hand. Was sure she did not pret the bruises after leaving the house. Could see it was a man in the room, but was unable to identify him as Virgin.