PRICE INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1930, Page 5

PRICE INQUEST

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., Aprilll

There was an unusual development at the resumption of the Price tragedy inquest this morning when immediately the Coroner, Mr Stout S.M., took his seat, Mr McGregor who was appearing for the relatives of the deceased intimated he had had Dr King’s evidence perused by two medical practitioners, who he said entirely disagreed with the conclusion made. He applied for leave to call them as witnesses in the afternoon, and to give a demonstration. The Coroner said Mr McGregor was entitled to call them, but the procedure was extraordinary. Counsel suggested that Drs King and Will who examined the body be recalled.

The Coroner intimated that he would also like the other Doctors recalled in that event.

Mr McGregor said he proposed to call evidence by Drs Miller and Boyd in tlie afternoon.

The Coroner continued the hearing of evidence bearing on the tragedy from neighbors. Guy Brogden, a carpenter employed by Price, said the day his employer was found dead, he was working on a job near deceased’s house. He was informed by Nagel and John Price of bis employer’s death. Describing the annearnnce of the body to the Coroner when witness and others with Dr King entered the room, Brogden said deceased was lving with both arms outstretched. but be could not swear to that. He could not say if there were signs of a struggle. He did not closely observe the room.

The Coroner.—Did any one connected ~' : +h Price finally approached you about

tli's case. TV itness. only Mr McGregor. I informed him I had made a statement to the police. Witness had no conversation a Per the Doctor’s departure concerning the cause of death. Senior Detective Quirke.—Has anything been said about how Mrs Price would be letft as a result of deceased’s death Witness.—Yes. John Price asked how she would he left and I replied I thought he need not worry. •John Price said “There is insurance is there. I wonder if it is paid up.” Witness added that he thought it was John Price ‘who asked him to go and look at it. Witness was reluctant and John Price said “Oh, come on,” Witness went in and John Price obtained a paper which proved to be a builders risk. That was all after the departure of the Doctor. Adolphe Ihle, who lnid worked for deceased, said lie was of a very quiet temperament, even reserved. When witness was at the house the morning the body was found, John Price wrote out a list of addresses of relatives and handed them to Brogden, saying to all present: “Wluit about insurance.” John Price did not appear to be upset. Later witness visited deceased’s house and saw the body. The right arm was in an upward direction with line hand half closed, and left arm straight out from the body, the head over to the left and the body lying on the carpet, blanket and sheet. To Detective Quirke, witness said deceased always used his right for sawing. bus left arm troubled him for a while after a motor accident. To the Coroner—Deceased had a little difficulty in lifting his left arm. Quirke —What was the temperament of deceased. Witness—He was quiet and easy going. The Coroner —I suppose not the sort of man who would make such an enemy as would come and murder him in cold blood in his sleep. Witness—No, not to my knowledge. Coroner—That seems to be a suggestion of John Price. To Mr McGregor—Deceased, prior to the day of the tragedy, was joking cheerfully as always. He appeared to have no worries and his manner was perfectly normal. He knew no motive for deceased to commit suicide. Leonard Charles Lee said on the morning of March sth. when delivering milk to Price’s house, the garage door was open and there was a car there with a box projecting out of the back. He had never seen the car in the same position before. George Innes McGregor (solicitor) said Ire had acted for deceased for four or five years prior to his death. About October last deceased spoke of taking out a life insurance, one reason being a, motor accident which lie had. A month later deceased told him he had taken out a policy for £2<500. The matter arose from an incidental conversation. Witness advised him to to take out the policy. Witness now knew deceased did not pay t-lie premiums, but merely eight per cent, interest on them, amounting to £7, instead of the £B9 due. In February lastdeceased took out a further thousand pounds. Deceased’s affairs were not involved. He estimated the value of the estate not including the life insurance, at something over £4OOO. His annual income was about £6OO. He was never pressed by a single creditor. Dr Hunter Will said, Mrs Price (deceased’s wife) was in such a state of health that she could not appear before the Coroner to give evidence. The Coroner—Can you give us any indication when she will he able to come and give, us information? Dr Will—She is in a state of silence. The Coroner—The difficulty is that tne son is in a state of silence too. We want somebody to talk. Dr Will said Mrs Price had a rapidly heating heart indicating worry. He could not say when she would he fit to

appear. She. was worried about her son being upset. *

Coroner—Her hoy upset, he has not shown it so far. We have suspicions that he knows more than what he has said. Ido not suggest his statements are untrue. All that he has said may be true, but is it all? We don’t want this to' become another Elsie Walker case. We want Mrs Price to talk. We can adjourn the inquest until she is ready.

Mr McGregor—One of the son's uncles has pleaded with him to tell all he knows.

Coroner.—l think all she has told us L true, but is it all? The hoy has nothing to worry about, if he makes a clean breast of things.

Coroner-'-We cannot call Mrs Price

to-day. An undertaker, W. R. Kells, said he found the deceased lying flat on his hack, .the left arm resting on the elbow, hand outstretched in an upright position the other arm.extended parallel to the body. Aft^the -body was attended to at the morgue, the left arm was left stiff up in The air. The Court then adjourned.