THE HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3997, 14 September 1929, Page 2

THE HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

POLICE ENQUIRIES

“SOME OTHER HAPPENING.”

OHFICIAL STATEMENT MADE,

Developments of 'a rather sensational nature have apparently followed the investigations conducted into some strange features associated with the dreadful fire tragedy at Hhnatangi, according to an official pronouncement . which was made to a “Standard” representative, yesterday morning, when the police Avere approached concerning the inquiries 'being instituted into the mysterious affair. “We have definitely come to the conclusion that there was some other happening besides the fire,” stated the police in indicating the trend of the .numerous investigations at present in hand and being continued. . “The facts of the fire itself are generally known,” they said, “and we hre in a position to confirm the suspicion that there was some serious 'happening apart from the actual fire.” ' . -CLOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

The close investigations being pursued, would, stated the police, extend over a number of days, and the inquest would be resumed as soon as'possible. “It is a matter which concerns the public,” it was added, an intimation being given that no effort would be relaxed to shed further light on the terrible tragedy. ; The police indicated that the evidence to' be brought forward at the resumption of the. inquest would be lengthy and detailed. The possibilities of disclosures, could not be disregalrded. - “There are various aspects which need explanation,” was the reply made to questions by the “Standard” representative.

“FURTHER SERIOUS ELEMENT'

“Wle have the suspicion that there was a further serious element of tragedy in this case, in addition to the actual fire itself,” added the

police. “Our investigations' are on the lines of proving whether what apparently happened in the / house was the result of ah occurrence which took place inside or outside,” they said. “If the former were the case, then the secret perished with the fire.” That the inquiries in hand wejre protracted was indicated by the police who stated that elimination evidence was being gathered to trace and confirm the movements of alf persons likely to have been in the locality at about the time when the tragedy. occurred, Yesterday, about twenty persons

were seen by the -detectives in

chafrge of the affair, and a very large number of personal interviews are being made. ■ Owing to the difficult nature of the country to be traversed, and the sparse population, extensive travelling had been necessary in connection. With the exhaustive inquiries being conducted. ' COMPLETE EXAMINATION. “Afe there any indications to show that the fire was purely an accident,” the police were asked, but they refused to discuss that aspect. “Has anything been found which is likely to throw any further light on the tragedy!” asked the “Standard” representative, but the police'were non-committal, and declined to discuss further the most serious feature' of the mysterious occurrence.

Everything likely to throw any

illumination on the facts associated with the tragedy had been removed from the scene of the fire, proceeded the police, and they had taken possession of all articles for a careful examination. '.The quest among the ruins for any definite evidence to assist the coronial finding had been progressing for days. Whether there would be any revelations at the inquest remained to be seen, but every, trace of evidence* which could be produced ya,s being fully investigated. • LEAD IN SKULL WOUND. • The statement that a little lead was found in a round hole in the base of one bf the skulls discovered in the room occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Weight fras confirmed by the police, who said that it fould be attributed to the skull being struck by something falling in .the fire after death, and molten lead dropping down from the roof.

Interviewed by the “Standard’

porter to-day, Dr. King, of Pal

huts ton North, who examined the remains after they had been removed to- the Foxton mortuary, stated that he was making a considered investigation, the facts of which, 'when completed, would be incorporated in the full report to be communicated at the inquest. •

DETAILS REVIEWED. !-' . C It is now a week since a terrible tragedy was enacted away back on the Himatangi' Estate, miles from civilisation and after seven days investigating the police are now in a position to definitely intimate that something more than a Are occurred in that, three-roomed shack known as the Westlake homestead. In view of this pronouncement a review of the facts of the case as no-

ted by our representative are possibly interesting. Word of a tragic fire at the Westlake homestead was received at Foxton by the police about 1 o’clock

last Saturday and it was not long before the police and a Herald representative were on the scene. Detective Russell who had also been communicated with arrived shortly after from the direction of Rangiotu. Messrs Kauri and Griffin, shepherds in the employ of the Barber Estate also arrived on the scene together with iMf. Cadogau, but none of these gentlemen were

pble to give any information in regard with the occupants of the house. Seven bodies were discovered, those of Mr. Westlake, Mr. and Mrs. Wright and four children. Someone then intimated that they thought an employee named Bennett was also living at the house but could not give any definite information on this point. In the ruins a shot .gun was discovered lying in Mr. W estlake’s room, one hammer of which was cocked and the other down. The gun had fallen to pieces and both barrells were empty. The back portion of Mr. Weight's skull, however, was found to contain a smooth round hole about half an inch in diameter situated just above the base, inside which was some melted lead. How this hole game to be in Wright’s head is a mystery ithe police are working hard to unravel. Wright was lying on the broad of his back and thus it does not seem possible that the hole was made after death. Then again it does not seem possible that the hole was made with a shot gun as had such a weapon been used it is almost certain that the whole of the head would have ‘been blown off. There is a possibility however, of such a wound-being caused by a pilot gun (provided it was used at close range and the cartridge split round an ordejr to prevent the shot from spreading, a method often employed by pig shooters hunting with a shot gun. Mr. and Mrs. Wright were lying on the floor at the end of their bed and on either side of Mrs. W right lay eotrset bones while on her chest were brass eyes and hooks which would suggest that she was dressed at the time of death, (he only other alternative being that she had left her bed, and had fallen down at the end and her clothes, possibly hung on the bed, had fallen over her body. It was not possible to say whether Wright was dressed or not. Mr. Westlake was fully dressed without a doubt and lying on the broad of his back an the living room with his head near the floor and his hands drawn up to ibis head. A post mortem examination of his body did not disclose anything untoward. His heart was reported to be in a healthy condition. ' , •

In Mr. and Mrs. Wright’s bedroom within about three or four feet of their bed lay the remains' of their, infant daughter Prudence undisturbed in her cot. This . child was dumb and possibly on account of her affliction the’ parents were more than deeply attached to her. It seems a very strange thing, therefore, ithat had the tragedy been ir.rrely one of fire that both father, and mother would endeavour to escape from the burning building without an attempt to rescue their child, almost within reach of them as they lay in bed. Huddled in the next bedroom lay what at first appeared to be two little bodies hut underneath found the third Wright child. From investigations carried out by our representative it has been discovered that all the bedrooms had windows in them which opened and all bedrooms also had. doors leading directly into the living room near which the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Wright and .the children were discovered. The windows were large, reaching almost to the ground- and the children were in the habit of jumping in and out their window. Why then had they not endeavoured to escape from the fire by means of the exit they were so used to instead of attempting'to get into the living room. The seven bodies were removed carefully to the Foxton morgue on Saturday night. Over night it became definitely known that an employee named Thomson was living at 'the house. The police and detectives returned to the fire and late on 'Sunday brought back some more bones found in the living room and thought to be Thomson’s. Examination showed them to be dog’s bones. A further search was carried out and in the meantime Drs. King arid Wyllie set about a post mortem examination of the remains. On Tuesday they announced that among the remains.of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were discovered certain holies belonging to neither of these two people and which belonged to m. adult male. These were, taken for those of Thomson. It is also a very strange thing that. Thomson should be found in Mr. and Mrs. Wright’s room. He could not sleep on the opposite side of the partition ;is this space was occupied by a dresser and cupboards, and his bed was located iii Westlake’s room. During the whole week the police have been prosecuting most stringent inquiries into the whole affair hut the nature of their discoveries have not 'been made (known. They appear quite satisfied that something untoward happened at the homestead other than fire. If so did the person concerned perish in the flames or is he at large? What is claimed to be Thomson’s best coat was found hanging in' the cowbails during the week. The coat is a Kaiapoi sports coat of tweed, and in the pockets were found a rough map showing the approach of the Westlake farm from Himatangi, a packet of vacuum parchments, sacking needle, leather belt and buckle and old nail brush

In conversation with our representative while he was waiting to tender evidence at the inquest which was formally; openecfyion Tuesday Mr Cadogan contradicted Mrs.- Kang’s statement with regard to Mr. Westlake, going out at nights. He was as blind as a bat he said and if a light were placed in a window to guide him home lie would not be able to see it. He was that blind he often used to hit his finger when using a hammer and was frequently unable to see (a. thing he had dropped to pick it up again. On cite occasion Mr. Cadogan said that lie-had taken Mr. Westlake into

Palmerston North and he had worried all the time about getting back before dark as he said he would not be able to find his way home after dark. Mr. Cadogan said that Thomson was always slipping out at nights. He had a horse he used to ride all over the place and went wherever there was anything on. Yesterday our representative interviewed an insurance company inspector who recently inspected and measured up the Westlake" homestead for insurance purposes. Our representative was informed that Mr. |Westlake had endeavoured to obtain £2OO insurance on the building in June last. After being in-' speeted the risk was declined, however. The inspector carried out his examination of the building on June 13th last and he confirmed the plan of the building previously published in the Manawatu Herald.

FUNERAL OF VICTIMS.

The funeral of all the victims of the Himatangi fire tragedy was conducted at the Terrace End and Kelvin Grove cemeteries, Palmerston (North on Thursday. There was a particularly sad scene at the residence of Mr. W- Remnant, Tt Awe Awe Street, Palmerston N., i'athejr of Mrs. Wright. With bowed heads a large gathering of friends ond relatives of the Wright family stood around two wreath-covered caskets while Rev. G. Y. Woodward conducted a short service. The remains of Mir. and Mrs. Wright were ‘ in one and those of the four children in the other. The cortege which followed the two funeral carriages to the graveside was a lengthy one, testifying to the respect in which Mr. and Mrs. Wright were held, and the affection that was extended to (he children. Many mourners had a iso gathered at the graveside where the last rites were performed bj Rev. Woodward. The large numr her of beautifill floral tributes included a wreath'from .the children of Rangiotu school which the two elder Wright children had attended; •

The paII-bearers were Messrs W. Pukiowski (Palmerston North), P. Cochrane (‘Feilding), F, Brady (Napier), G. Remnant (Feilding) relatives of Mrs. Wright, J. Gray (Kairanga), W. Ladd, J. Howell (Rcngotea), J. [Donaldson, 'A. C. Harrison, J. Carson, J. Boyce (Glen Oroua) and G. Greer. The interment of the late Mr. S. H. Thomson also took place at the Terrace |End cemetery, the graveside. Service being conducted bv Rev. J. C. Abbott. A sad feature was the enforced absence through illness of deceased’s father whose workmates attended as pallbearers.

The remains, of the late Mr. J. B. Westlake were laid to rest at the Kelvin Gi’Qve burial ground where Rev. G. T. Brown officiated. The - pall-bearers were Messrs E. Westlake (Dannevirke), A...Nanby (Levin), A. £. Paget (Pahiatua), J. Swiggs (Pahiatua). „ ,