KUMARA TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1931, Page 6

KUMARA TRAGEDY

GOLD MINER FOUND SHOT. “That the deceased, John Joseph Rochford, came to bis death at Maori Point on the tenth day of August, 1931, from a gunshot wound, self-inflicted, while in an abnormal state of mind. 1 ' The foregoing was the verdict returned by the Coroner 3 Mr AY. Meldrum, at Kumara yesterday, at the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of John Joseph Rocliford, a gold miner, aged 39 years, who was on Monday evening found dead in the doorway of his hut at Maori Point, with a gunshot wound in his head. The deceased saw considerable service •during the Great War. Constable AYilton conducted the inquest on behalf of the police. Evidence of identification was given by James Rocliford. uncle of deceased, who said bis nephew was in good health when he saw him on Monday-. He told him that lie was then going to, see a doctor. Witness knew of no reason why he should do away with himself. Janie# Kean, engaged in the gold sluicing claim at Maori Point, with deceased, said he last saw deceased alive at about 4 p.m. on Monday, and he was then leaving Kumara for Maori Point. He was then apparently alright. Witness left Kumara at about 6.30 p.m. for Maori Point with stores, and when he arrived about an hour later at the hut. which both occupied, ho found deceased lying dead in the'doorway with a gun between his legs. He had never complained to witness, and had no worries so far as he knew. Deceased was a good, hard worker, and witness knew 'of no reason why he should have taken his life.

'Frederick Wise, draper, of Kumara, who took the previous witness to Maori Point on ■ Monday evening, said that with Kean he found deceased lying on the broad of his hack in the doorway, with the gun (produced) between his legs. A piece of string was tied to the foot of deceased and to the trigger of the gun. He had known deceased about twelve months and he had always seemed to ho a little melancholy. John Basil Page, medical practitioner of Kumara, said he saw the deceased at about 10.30 p.m. on Monday mid lie had then been dead several hours. There was a large wound in the left side of the forehead just above the eye. FT is brain was exposed and damaged. The wound was undoubtedly caused by the gunshot charge and death would be instantaneous. Tn his mind there was no doubt that it was a question of suicide. Witness saw the deceased that morning when he appeared quite nqrmnl, except that he'was fleprossed. Tn witness’s opinion deceased must have been in an abnormal state of mind when he actually did it. The Coroner returned the verdict as above stated.