INQUEST RESUMED

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1931, Page 6

INQUEST RESUMED

TRAGEDY AT HERMITAGE. DEATH OF E. W. WOO AN. t- i TIMA'RU, November 30. The inquest on Edward William Wogan who died at the Hermitage on November 5, as a resuit of a gun-shot wound, was resumed to-day, following the completion of police inquiries ordered by the 'Coroner (Mr C. R. Orr-Walker). # While i.u his bedroom on the evening of November 5, Wogan, an employee at the Hermitage, died a few minutes after receiving a riHe shot in the head. At the opening of the inquest William Thomas WhaTley said that he and Wogan had been in the room together. iWhalley was leaving the room when he heard a shot. Ho turned round to see Wogan bleeding from a wound in his,.ear. He was still sitting on the chair, his head bent back against the wall. Whalley had not noticed where the gun was lying.’ He summoned help and he and a man named Williams carried the body to the bed. The rifle was near the back o! the settee then. EVIDENCE OF GUNSMITH. Ambrose Hill, gunsmith, of. fifty years’ experience, stated that he had examined 'the riile, a .22 automatic. It was a dangerous weapon at any time, especially to a stranger. He produced exhibits showing shot marks fired at six inches, twelve 1 inches, eighteen inches and a't two feet. The last-named showed absolutely no sign of powdei discoloration.

To the Coroner: It was strange that if fired at close quarters, there was no singeing around the wound. In his opinion the shot was fired not closer that twelve to fourteen inches from the head. It would be aimost impossible for anyone to fire from this distance holding the gun himself, to agree with tlie medical evidence of horizontal fire. ' 'The Coroner ; “It is clear that a man ’could not deliberately shoot himself in that position ?” The witness': Yes, the furthest you could put the barrel away from the head would be six inches. He was not prepared to say that the description of the wound given by the doctor was consistent with shooting from eight feet away, but it was possible. He had tested the gun in all ways, and had found it impossible to be accidentally discharged by banging oi dropping. There must have been something to touch the trigger. Fr o m the position in which the rifle was found on the settee adjoining the chair, where deceased was shot, he could no* isee how the gun could have been fired. There seemed to be nothing on the settee to obstruct the trigger. It was pbssihle, but not probable to assume that the gun, caught on a settee corner, could have slipped into the position in which it was found. The Coroner: Gan you indicate any way the wound could have been caused ‘by accidental discharge to strike <V--i'ceased above the ear? The witness: No, I cannot. C Charles Digby Elms, manager of the Hermitage, stated that he knew nothing against the character of William Whalley, chef, who was in the room when the accident occurred. The Coroner : Did you know of any betting transactions Iretwen deceased and Whalley? The witness: No. The Coroner: I just wanted to know, as it may have some bearing on the matter. The case is proceeding.