EIGHT PERSONS BURNT TO DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3995, 10 September 1929, Page 2

EIGHT PERSONS BURNT TO DEATH.

In Three-Roomed House. Bodies Charred Beyond Recognition. Origin of Fire a Mystery. The most appalling tragedy that has ever taken place in this district occurred on the Himatangi Estate about eight miles from Foxton late on Friday night, when a three-roomed cottage owned by Mr. John Brown Westlake, and occupied by the owner and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wright and family of four children, and an employee named Thomson, was destroyed hy fire and all the inmates burned to death. The victims were:— JOHN BROWN WESTLAKE, aged 64 years, a well-known Pahiatua resident and Justice of the Peace. THOMAS WRIGHT, aged 47, farmer, formerly of the Rongotea district. KATHERINE MARY FRANCES WRIGHT, aged 36, wife. JOYCE WRIGHT, 9 years. BRIAN, 8 years. AILEEN, 6 years. PRUDENCE, 3 years. SAMUEL HEWITT THOMSON, 26 years, single, farm employee, formerly of Rongotea district, and a son. of Mr. and Mrs. A. Thomson,"of 221 Ruahine Street, Palmerston North. POLICE AND DOCTOR PROCEED TO SCENE. On receipt of the appalling news, Constable Owen made immediate preparations to visit the scene of the tragedy. Together with Constable Bell and accompanied hy Dr. Wjyllie, a Herald representative and two assistants and equipped with stretchers, etc., a fast lorry was, within a few minutes on its way to the Westlake homestead. Turning oil the Foxton-Himatangi road about four miles north of Foxton, the lorry struck across country to the scene of the tragedy. The going was very rough and the lorry and the car containing the doctor experienced a great deal of difficulty in covering the t THREE MILES OF WATERLOGGED COUNTRY to the homestead. At Mr Cadogan’s homestead about a mile this side of Mr. Westlake’s property, the police were met by, Mr. Kauri on horseback. It was found necessary to remove fence wires to permit the vehicles to cross Mr. Cadogan's farm hut with-Mr. Kami leading it was not long ibefore the party arrived at the scene of the conflagration. On approaching the Westlake farm the miles of barren, sandy water-logged country covered as far as- the eye could see with setnib and fern and presenting a scene of extreme desolation gave way to high scrub-covered sand hills between which one caught a glimpse to the east of a piece of Native Bush making a delightful break to a monotonous outlook. On completing an S bend between high sandhills, tlie little convoy caught their first glimpse of signs of habitation since leaving the Cadogan homestead. SCENE OF THE HOMESTEAD. On a grass-covered sand ridge directly in front was situated cowhails and sheds with the milking herd wandering restlessly up and down the yards waiting to be milked. Calves bleated piteously but the cattle dog, belonging to Mr. Wright and tied up at the milking shed, gave no tongue of welcome or alarm but with head lraug down dismally watched pur approach as if already aware of the (terrible tragedy."‘Two spring drays lay tipped hack on their wheels nearby where they had evidently been left by Mr. Wright, one having the appearance of having been used the previous day as the harness lay* alongside where it had been discarded. At the milking sheds everything was in order and just as itr had been left after milking the previous evening. A small hill blocked the view of the house from the sheds and scrambling to the top,, of this ridge we gazed ‘down on smouldering ruins below us about a hundjred yards distant. To the north, about three or four hundred yards from the house, stretched a ' hundred at res of beautiful Native-bush, while to the east and south - stretched swampy ground with strips of grass country and belts of flax lands. Altogether the homestead had been ideally situated, protected from the prevailing westerly winds by high sand ridges. On making, our way down to the ruins we passed a small poultry yard and peeping into the fowl house we saw three eggs lying in a nest in the corner waiting collection hy eagep’ little hands that we knew were now for ever still. The homestead had recently been fenced around and planted with a species of garden.. nva croc a vpa. On all sides there was ample evidence of many improvements recently carried out to the place. Our guide led the way down tlie hill to the ruins and standing in front of the mass of ffiill smouldering; ashes and twisted, iron, removed his hat and with a wealth of Native sympathy in his voice exclaimed, with a sweep of the hand ‘JThis, a very bad business.” Y, DISCOVERY OF THE VICTIMS. _ Immediately in front of us and scarcely a yard inside what was once the front and only' doo'r to the house, there lay on the broad of his hack with lvis head facing the door the badly charred body of Mr. Wfestlake. At his head lay a pile of twisted and melted glass, while at his right side lay some charred vegetables. From all appearances he was practically fully clothed at the time tragedy overtook him for from his charred remains it was discovered that he had been attired in shirt and singlet, pants and underpants, sox and boots. His false teeth, a full upper and lower set, were still in and twisted and melted glasses lay alongside his'head. TRAPPED IN THE BEDROOMS. On investigating the ruins in a bedroom situated on the eastern * side of the house at the rear of the living room in which Mr. Westlake’s body was located, were the bodies, evidently of Mr. apd Mrs. Wright. They lay feet to feet at the end of a double bed, the woman’s body near what was a window in the eastern wall. They were both lying on their backs and were presumably in night attire. The skull of Mr. Wi’ight was found to have a round hole in it? at the base, but it isi thought that this was caused after death by something, fa Ring on the body. Opposite the double bed was a small wire stretcher i !the remains of a cot, on which was the almost unrecognisable body of Mr. and Mrs. Wright's infant child. A trunk and a hurricane lamp lay alongside the cot, and sundry bedirhom utensils lav scattered about the room. The only exit from this room other than the window, was by a doolr leading into the

living room. • v Adjoining the. bedroom, was located another bedroom in-which the three voung children slept. A double wire stretcher was discovered in the south-west corner of the room, Imt near the door also leading into the living room, a yard or so from the bed, lay the THREE LITTLE BODIES of the Wjright children in a charred heap. A kodak camera, child’s money box and Ivedroom utensils lay scattered about the room. In the room adjoining a small lean-to was a diamond wire stretcher, made from -fencing wire.. A double-barrel shot gun was found lying empty and in pieces near the southern Avail. In the liA’ing room, Avhieh ran the whole length of the building was a Dover stove, the unprotected iron flue of which used to run up the outside, eastern Avail. 'Cooking and culinery utensils lay Scattered about near the stove and twistfd water pipes boire testimony to the intenseness of that incinerating conflagration. ' - Between Mr. Westlake’s body and those of the children were two kerosene or benzine tins with tops intact except for the usual perforations for the filling of lamps, etc. The remains of a. clock lay alongside the little bodies while neairer the western Avail were piled in confusion, a sewing machine, milk can and the usual farm-house utensils, over which had crashed tAA r o square 600-gallon tanks. ■' OF THE EIGHTH BODY. The embers were carefully combed for any further remains, it having been suggested by a neighbour than an eighth person was in Urn house at the time of the tragedy, an employee named Thomson. The heat from the still smouldering ruins made a careful search impossible and the. remains o£ tlm seven victims discovered Avere removed to the Fox ton morgue bv motor lorry. - Early on Sunday morning, however, Inspector Simpson, accompanied by Detectives Quirke and Russell and Constable Owen again visited the scene of the (ire, and, aftelr carefully examinino- the ruins, which were then cold, discovered a number of bones believed to be those of Mr. Wright’s employee, Thomson. The remains were carefully removed -for identification purposes.

It has now been ascertained that the fire occurred-. o’elock and midnight on Friday. Tavo. local residents saw a glare in the skv in the direction of the homestead at a quarter to twelve on Friday night while several Rangiotu residents who had begn attending a miniature rifle club shoot and who were returning home about 11.30 also saw the reflection.

JACK 'KAURI INTERVIEWED

.In an interview with our representative at the scene of the tragedy, Mr. Jack Kauri; a shepherd in the employ .of Mr. W. Renton, manager foir the Barber Estate, said that his duties caused him to pass the Westlake farm twice daily.. On Friday last he passed the homestead from an easterly \ direction about 4 o’clock iii the afternoon. He did not see anyone about but he .heard somedne hammering about, .the house. 'Everything was then quite all right. The following morning; however, while going therounds of the sheep and passing about a quarter of a mile off the homestead to the east at about 10 o’clock he noticed the smouldering ruins. Time did not permit him to investigate.but he came to the conclusion that the occupants were safe with neighbours. In completing his circuit of the farm he on this occasion, at about midday, approached the farm from the west and discovered the milking herd waiting at the yards which were located on a hill a little vj’est of the house. He thought it unusual for the cows to be at the yards at such a late hour and decided to investigate. He rode up to the sheds but could see no one there. He then turned his horse and rode to (Mr. Cadogan’s farm about a mile to the west. On arrival there he asked Mi’. Cadogan where Mr. Wright was and Mr. 'Cadogan’s reply was that he had not seen him. He then told Mr. Cadogan that the Westlake house was iii ruins. Both Mff. Kauri and Mi 1 . (C'adogan then entertained fears as to the safety of the occupants of the house and rode with all haste to the homestead. Springing from their horses on the ridge overlooking the smouldering ruins of the house it needed but a cursory glance to apprise then of the awful fate of the inmates. In the smouldering ruins several badly charred bodies were easily discernible. Remounting their horses they rode with all hastA to Mr William Hines’ place, a mile or so distant in a northerly direction, the nearest telephone, and from there notified the Foxton police of the terrible tragedy.

“A REAL NICE FELLOW.” Air. Cadogan who was awaiting the police on the scene on Saturday informed our representative that Air. Westlake took over the property from Mr. A. R. Crowe, of Foxton, in February last. Since then he had employed different sharemilkers on the place and had carried out a good deal of improvements. He had built a lean-to along the southern wall and a small sleeping apartment on the western end; Washhouse and bathroom had also been added. Air. Cadogan said that he did not know his neighbours very intimately. 'Air. Wright be knew best of all and he was a real nice fellow. The Wrights had only been on the place about two months and the two eldest children attended the Rangiotu school. . DESCRIPTION OF HOUSE.

Mr.A. R. Crowe, former owner, describingjthe house wheninterviewed by our repojrter, said that he had sold his •property to Mr. Westlake in February last. Until then

he had resided on the farm but had since moved to Foxton where he • now resides. During his occupancy . of' the place the living quarters consisted’of a two-lroomed whare, but since Mr. 'Westlake Had taken over' '• the place he had cut out,the parti- ’ tion in the whare proper and added a lean-to tlie whole length and a little beyond the rear of the original building. There was still only the one main entrance door but there were windows in all the new rooms. They were large windows reaching to within a couple of feet of the floor. 'The new bedrooms had doors leading into the living room. The stove had also been shifted to ' the western end and outside of the living room by Mr. Westlake and the unprotected iron flue, ran up the outside of the building. The stove was of the small Dover type. The farm contained 350 acres and was taken ovek by Mr. Westlake on February 26th of this year. A NEIGHBOUR'S 'THEORY. Mrs. H. King, wife of Mr. H. King, who is employed on the Himatangi Estate, and who lives about a mile away from the WestlakC farm was able to throw some , interesting light and to advance a very feasible theory on the tragedy when interviewed by our representative. Mrs. King, who is at present spending a holiday with her brother, Mr. H. A. Gardner, of Himatangi, was the Wright’s nearest neighbours and saw Mrs. Wright two or three times a week. She was

a close friend of Mrs. Wiright, having been a girlhood companion and she w T as ?ery pleased when she received word that they were going to live on the Westlake fawn. She* visited her within a day or so of her arrival on the property and had frequently been a caller there since. Four weeks ago Mrs. Wright and her two youngest children contracted .chicken pox and Mrs. King used to visit the* homestead daily to attend to. their* wants; Her patients required constant attention, however, and she had them removed to her own home. Thomson had brought them over to Mrs. Kang’s place. She knew Thomson but slightly. After nursing Mrs. Wright and her children, Mrs. King and her child contracted the. complaint. Shortly after Mr. King had obtain> ed his holidays and left on a vacation. Mi’s. Wright had then offered to take charge of Mjrs. King’s child and enable her to have a holiday also, but Mr. Gardner had persuaded her to let him have the child and in the end she left the child with her brother, or possibly there might have been another victim added to the list. All Mrs. Wright’s family, said Mrs. King, had had birthdays since their arrival in their new home two months ago. Mr. Westlake had been very fond of the children and also Mr. and Mrs. Wiright,, and altogether they were

A VERY HAPPY FAMILY. Mr Wright had no relatives in New Zealand, but Mrs Wright’s people reside in Palmerston N., Mr. Remnant, of Te Awe Awe Street, being, her father. Mrs Wright’s brother was recently the victim of a railway accident at Thomdon Station, Wellington, when he fell between the tracks and was cut to pieces by the train. Of Mr Thomson,' Mrs King knew but little, but she believed he had an uncle in Rongotba by the name of Vallender. Prior to the Wrights taking the place over, they having come from the Rongotea district, together, with Thomson, two other sharemilkers had been on the farm since Mr. Wlestlake had purchased the property. A VERY FEASIBLE THEORY. Mrs King advanced the following theory v in.regard to the tragedy: Mr Westlake, she said,’ had been in the habit of going out at nights and not returning until a late hour. Nobody knew where he went, and sometimes he became lost in the darkness. On these occasions he would climb on to a bill and eoo-ee when Mrs Wright would either answer him olr place a lighted lamp in the window to guide him home. Mr Westlake was very short-sighted, and wore strong glasses, without which he was almost blind. He was 64 years of age, and„ recently had been subject to severe heart attacks. As a result of these attacks he had consulted a medical man in Palmerston North, who had advised him to‘ remain in town. This he had 'refused to do, and Mrs King was of the opinion that AL. Westlake had been out on one of his rides on Friday night, arriving home Jate, and struck a match, or possibly lit a kerosene lamp Which were in use in the house, and then collapsed with a heart attack, and the light he was holding fell to the floor and set fire to the building. Airs King stated ' that both Air Westlake and Mr. Thomson slept in a small lean-to on the western side of the house, which had an entrance opening into the living room. The room was very small, and the entrance, which was covered by a curtain, was of such small dimensions that Air Westlake, who was a big man, had to enter sideways. At lhe end of the living room, said Airs King, there was a wash-house and bathroom, which constituted another lean-to, off which were the two tanks. The place was very small, and All’ Westlake had added lean-tos all round it from time to time. IDENTIFICATION. On Sunday Constable Burrell, of Pahiatua, accompanied by Aliss Westlake, a daughter of deceased, visited (Foxton for the purpose of identifying the body. The late Air Westlake was a wellknown Pahiatua resident, having been in business in that town for many years as a saddler. He was a Justice of the Peace. His wife and daughter, Aliss Westlake, live with another married daughter, Mrs Judd, of Pahiatua. ' DISCOVERY OF THOMSON’S BODY.

O-n his return to Foxton on Sunday, Constable Owen informed our representative that the remains believed to be those of Thomson, were discovered in the living, room not far away from Mr Westlake’s body. Thomson’s best coat was also discovered hanging in the cowbails.

THE POST AIORTEAI.

CONFLICTING REPORTS.

AIRS. KING EMPHATIC.

Owing to the fact that certain conflicting reports have been circulated in regard to the lay-out of the.Wlestlake house our representative again interviewed Airs. King yesterday. Airs. King is emphatic that all bedrooms opened oat into the Jiving room and sketched a plan of the building placing the various articles of furniture in their respective places. Airs. King says that she was in the habit of visiting the Westlake homestead two or three times weekly and knew the ins and outs of the house perfectly, having on occasions assisted Airs. Wright in arranging her rooms. On one occasion the children had been playing in their bedroom jumping in and out of the window which was a large one, extending almost to the floor, Airs. King then remarked what a fine window it was and Airs. Wright had replied that it would be a. good exit in' case of fire. A previous sharemilfcer had asked Air. Westlake to put a door in the rear of the building but this he had not done. Possibly, however, Air. Westlake had made the window on the large side realising that the place would he more or less of r & death trap without any egress. Airs. King said that

ALL THE WINDOWS OPENED. She was possibly Airs. Wright’s only visitor. The lean-tos had been very roughly constructed with no ceilings and there were cracks in the walls. In Airs. King’s opinion once alight the place would burn with great rapidity owing to the draught.

Asked how she accounted for the swedes and benzine.tins being near Air. Westlake’s body in the centre of the living rponi, Airs. King sail! that they sholrt of buckets at the farm and Air. Westlake had been in the habit of picking up the benzine tins discarded by the Maoris and taking them home to be used as buckets. He was particularly fond of vegetables and if lie had gone out to Bainesse on the night of the fire his way home would lead him through a paddock of swedes and he had possibly pulled two or three of these. He would more than likely put them down when attempting to strike a ‘light. Air. Westlake rode a horse on his night outings. Airs. King said that she was possibly the last woman to speak to Mrs. Wright as she saw her only a few days prior to the tragedy. She had then made mention of going into (Foxton to make some purchases. “I won’t like going ba.ek to my home now,” concluded Airs. King, “it will be very lonelv out there now.”

IDENTIFICATION OF BODIES.

Yesterday Dr. Wyllie and Dr. King (Palnjerston North) commenced a post mortem examination of the bodies but no report is yet available.

Interviewed this morning, Constable Owen, who with Palmerston North detectives again spent the day investigating the ruins yesterday, said there was nothing to report.

A post mortem examination was completed on the bodies this morning by Drs. E. M. Wyllie and King (Palmerston N.). The examination disclosed the fact that the remains brought in'on Sunday and which it was thought were those of Thomson, discovered near the stove, the location of which is marked on our sketch, were those of some animal, possibly a dog and not human remains. It was discovered, however, that there were sections of a human vertical column among the hones of Mr. and Mrs’. Wright which did not belong to any of the seven victims located on Saturday. A further search of the ruins was made yesterday and more bones brought in and it is now almost practically certain that the bones are ,the remains of Thomson. They were located hear those of Mr. and Mrs. Wright ..and possibly, lie met his death on the opposite side of the partition from them. THE INQUEST. The inquest was formally opened this morning in the local Courthouse when the depositions of Jeremiah Gadogan wejre taken. In evidence Mr. Cadogaji stated that he was a farmer residing at ißaincsse, about 1A miles from Hima.tangi. He knew Mr. Westlake, the Wright family and Thomson and the site of the Westlake home. As far as he knew the victims were the only occupants of the hottse.. Last Saturday a. Native named Kauri Patea, a shepherd, in the employ of Mg- Renton, called at witness’s place at about 12.30 p.m. and asked if Mr. Wright was there. Witness replied that he was not. Kauri then said that Mr. . Westlake’s house had been burned .down and witness immediately got on bis horse and rode over to Westlake’s house with Kauri. Together they made an inspection of the ruins of the bouse and found five charred remains amongst them. The last time witness saw Westlake alive was at 8 a.m. on Thursday, September sth. Witness last saw Wright alive on Saturday, August 31st, when he passed witness’s farm. The last time witness was at Westlake’s house was on Sunday, August 25th. 'Thomson he saw alive on September sth when he was going towards the Foxton-Himatangi road, hut witness’s son said he saw him going towards Mr. Westlake’s farm on September 6th. Witness was on good tekms with both Mr. Wright and Mr. Westlake. Wright carted his cream to the road for him. As far as witness knew all in

the Westlake house were on good terms and he did not know a person who was on had terms with any member of the household. After witness and Kauri left the ruins Kauri hastened to Mr. Hine’s house to telephone the police and witness returned home. Witness knew the Westlake house well. It was a wooden building with an iron roof. > The main room of the house had been up for some years and Westlake had added five rooms. The only entrance to the house was through the kitchen facing north. To get into the bedrooms one had to squeeze through the end of the dividing partition, that was to get into Westlake’s room, the children’s room and the room which Wright and his wife slept in. There was no propei’ door and a man could only get through sideways and that would be tight. The stove was built up on wooden piles in the kitchen. There were no concrete or bricks about the base of the stove. The chimney or iron flue went out through the side of the wall on the eastern side of the house. The chimney was secured to the wall. After taking this deposition the inquest was adjourned sine die.

' The Herald “Extra” issued on Saturday evening, giving particulars of the tragedy, was circulated far and wide and we received many messages of appreciation for the detailed account circulated.