KIDDELL TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1927, Page 1

KIDDELL TRAGEDY

IXQI'EST VEHDICT. jy TKI.KUIt.tPH —VltliSS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. A PC KEANU. July IS. T 1,,; story of the Mount Albert tragedy. with a few new facts, was retold when the inquest concerning tile deaths of the victims— Ernest Whitby Kiddell, Louisa Jane Kiddell. Lorna Kiddell. and C.illcn Kiddell- was concluded before Mr E. K. Hunt. H.M.. Coroner. Mr P. .1. R van represented the Public Trust Office, which lum cnntrol of lac estate of tile deceased. A salesman for the Colonial Ammunition Company said he sold a .32 calibre Winchester rillc to Ernest Kiddell oil June 22. Deceased also bought lull rounds ol smokeless ammunition hut declined to buy a cleaning rod or oil. \ neighbour of the Kiddells gave evidence as to hearing the sound ol shots on tne morning of June 23rd. Senior Detective Hammond described the finding of the bodies in the house. The son and mother appeared to have been resigned to death, hut the face of the girl suggested that she did not know she was going to be killed. Mr Ryan : “Can you give any idea of the order of the deaths?” The fact is important in view of the administration of the estates. The father's estate. so far. is valued at £I7OO. The son’s farm at Mangaweka is valued at £IOOO. Detective Hmtllond said that it was evident that the daughter had died first. The death* of the mother and

the son were practically simultaneously. Alter this, the father had shut Tilmself. It was clear that the father had shot himself, as the bullet had gone right through the ceiling and roof. Replying to the Coroner, Detective 1 Hammond said that there was no evidence of the presence of drugs or narcotics. The Coroner: ‘‘There is evidently no possibility of discovering the order of the deaths.” Detective Hammond said that lie was satisfied the daughter had no part in the death pact. Several letters which liad been written by the elder Kidded to relatives were produced. Detective Hammond said they were of a private nature. On the. hack of the envelope of one letter was written, in different handwriting, the words: ‘‘With my consent.—Lou.’’ The Coroner said he did not think any good would be done by publishing the letters, and he suggested that they should be forwarded to their intended destinations. Medical evidence was given regarding Iho cause of the deaths. There were no signs of struggles, death having taken place instantaneously in each ease. The Coroner’s verdict was as follows: ‘ That the deceased Louisa Kiddell. Lorna Kiddell and Collen Kiddell. died at 5 West Street-, Mount Albeit. on .June 23rd., the cause of death being gunshot wounds, inflicted by Ernest Whitby Kiddell. There is some evidence to show that Louisa Jane Kiddell. his wife, acquiesced in this. I am satisfied that Ernest Whitby Kidded died a- little later, the cause of his death being suicide by shooting.”