PRICE INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1930, Page 3

PRICE INQUEST

THE RIVAL THEORIES

(By Telegniphr-Per-Press Association.'

PALMERSTON N., April 12

At tlie inquiry into the , death of Walter Edwin 'Price, Mi' McGregor, appearing lor the relatives of the deceased said- ]>r Laurenson, Matamata, attended deceased on the occasion of a previous when he received injuries' to the spine. The Coroner: I think I should have a full report from Dr Laurenson. r lhe effect of aiiv physical depression might have been accentuated hy the absence of deceased’s wife.

Rea lied. Dr King adhered to his ... ta tom cult that the nature of ’the wound and its direction was notoriously that of selection hy a suicide. Dr King quoted F. ■!• Smith, on Taylors “Principals and- Practice in Medical Jurisprudence”-, viz: “There is. one situation which is almost impossible for a murderer to imitate, that is, inside the mouth.”

“In Dr Miller’s demonstration,” said Dr King, “his position repeats precisely the position described hy me, hut lie conveniently rolled the body on to its side to make the direction of the missile accord with that of a shotgun held hy an assistant.” Dr King demonstrated under a bed placed in Court, the problematical posit, id ns assumed from the measurements taken and from the position the body was found. Dr King elaborated the theory that it was manifest not so difficult for a victim t-o see his assailant as it would ho for the murderer to shoot the victim at point blank range. Dr King lay underneath the bed and demonstrated his statement.

Dr Boyd, when asked to point the gun. expressed reluctance to take part.

The Coroner : L ask you to do so as Coroner.

The demonstration was then carried

Replying to Dr Boyd, Detective Quirke Said that there was no evidence of deceased being moved. Dr King said: The localisation of blood to the sheet round the left side of the head and face is one of the main points indicating the fact that the body did not move appreciably, after the wound was inflicted. Recalled David S. Wylie, surgeon, said lie associated himself in full with Dr King’s remarks and opinions, criticising the homicidal theories. He said: What would the muideror do. Aim at the victim’s chest presented to him or at the head in the shadow, and partly concealed.

It is assumed that lie aimed at the head. He had to crouch alongside the victim to produce a wound of the kind found. Secondly, Price was killed as described by Dr Miller and Dr Boyd, when the body moved round from the position they des ribed. into that- in which it was found, blood would inevitably have flowed from the .wound on to the victim’s body and portion of the floor, which Dr King is positive was clear of blood. It is conceivable that convulsive movements could have been made which may have brought the body from lying on its side to lying on its back, but the nature of the injuries to the brain were such, in my opinion as to make any further movement impossible. Mr McGregor informed the Coroner that Dr Putnam had treated the deceased for shoulder injuries. The Coroner said that no further evidence need he called pending the receipt of reports from R'rs Putnam and Laurenson. The inquest was thereupon adjourned sine die.