THE HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40010, 15 October 1929, Page 2

THE HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

INQUEST CONTINUED.

TWELVE WITNESSES TO TENDER. EVIDENCE TO-DAY.

The resumption of the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the victims of the liimatangi fire on September Gth, opened and adjourned on September 11th, was resumed before Mr. Alf, Fraser (Coroner) in the local Court house this mo)rning. Detective-Ser-geant Quirke conducted on behalf of the police, and Mr 0.10. Petersen (Palmerston N.) watched proceedings on behalf ol the Wright family. DR. KING’S EVIDENCE.

The first witness was Dr. Cyril A. King, of Palmerston North. The Dr. in evidence stated that on the evening of September 7th he examined broken portions of cranium bones handed to him by Detective Russell. The bones had been subjected to intense heat, but from the fragments witness was able to reconstruct- the greater part of the vault of the human cranium (specimen produced), disclosing a hole in the base about half-inch in diameter. There wore about six portions of bone around the hole which articulated exactly. ‘ ~ LEAD IN SKULL.

To the Coroner: The breaking of the skull around the hole was attributed to intense heat. As now reconstructed, the stkull now was as it was first discovered. The remains consisted of the hack portion and side of the skull, the greater part of both, top bones, a small piece of the posterior area of the frontal'boue in front of the top piece of the skull led witness to believe together with the thickness of the bone that it was that of an adult male... Witness was told that the bones were found in the vicinity of the Wrights’ bedroom. The reconstruction of the skull showed a round hole at the left side near the base. The position was important. The edges of the hole were bevelled so that the diameter on the inner aspect of the skull exceeded that of the outer. It was oval, not entirely round and the outer diameters were 22 millimeters by 18 millimeters, aud the inner 25 millimeters by 23 millimeters,- and so it was obvious that the hole was greater on the inside. For half of the circumference the hole was stained yellow aud there was a minute piece of lead attached to the bone surface. Inside the skull, lying in the hollow of the top piece, was au irregular piece of v lead, about 28 millimeters long and 12 millimeters broad, also stained yellow as was the underlying bone at

that point. One and a balf inches behind this point were two -similar but mueb smaller spots of yellow staining, the centres of which were unstained where apparently rested two pieces of lead. “That is a deduction, Mr Coroner, as there were not two pieces of lead

there but one deduces by the size and colour that that was so. The main piece of lead was long and narrow and on close -examination was apparently a grape-like cluster of small round pieces of lead fused together by the action of the heat. Witness examined the pieces of lead produced taken from the skull

(exhibit A) under a magnifying

glass and described it as an apparent grape-like-cluster of lead, most' likely shot. Witness couldn’t s\vea[r definitely' that it was shot. Detective Quirke: Expert evidence ou that point would be given

later on. " . “Exhibit B,” the doctor said, was just a piece of incited lead. WHAT CAUSED I THE HOLE . IN THE SKULL.

To Detective Quirke: What caused the hole. ~ Iu my opinion this hole was caused by a missile travelling at a very high velocity as there was no evidence of secondary fracturing of the hole on the outer aspect ou the edges of the hole. Explaining that remark, he said, where a hole was driven into a skull

;<j drive a clean hole a missile wo-

uld have .to travel at a much greater velocity than isay a pick or other .missile. Considering the fragility of the bones and the rounded edge <>f the bole such an injury to the skull must have been sustained be-

fore -the latter I was subjected to such intense beat. The bevelling of the edges inside the skull made an exact parallel with the reported

result of a gunshot wound." The bevelling further gave the direction of the missile, its course being directed from the hole .of entry downwards and slightly inwards towards

he-innoir lino-of r the base of the hulk .No portion of the base of

the skull remained and in the circumstances no point of exit need be looked for in such portions of the skuil as remained. WOUND. NOT SELF-INFLICTED. It would have been impossible fur thegunshot wound to be self- . ii,dieted and the position of the individual who received the shot must have been in a lying or,stooping position when-'the- shot was fired. FIRED AT POINT-BLANK ; RANGE. If the wound was made by a shot gun if must have been fired at almost point blank range, when the shot- was almost a solid mass of lead, on entering-the skull. It would therefore have heeiy.impossible for the wound to have been inflicted had the gun not been fired at elflhe range, , EXAMINATION Of' OTHER REMAINS. On Monday, September 9th, at Foxton, with Dr. E. M. Wyllie, witness made a post mortem examine, tion of the remains of the victim?' of the lire aWthe mortuary. Detective ’Russell was also present. Dealing with the Wright children's remains, various caicisu&f

hones undoubtedly human and corresponding; in size and development with those of young’ children were examined and the actual number of children accounted' for 'by three

charred corresponding remains. - A

considerable iportion of one body remained, including most of the front,of the head, .neck, body and portions'of Hmlbs. Extractions of a pre-molar tooth proved it to be a temporally. 'The sex was determined as that of a male. There was no external evidence of vio.ence. 'tProm a description''of tm> children, witness identitied it as that of Brian Wright, aged 8 years. “B exhibit” was a larger trunk with the head missing. Spinal column fairly intact and. all evidence of vertebrae repi’esented. The pelvic organs were not well preserved, but such as remained were indicative of a female child. The ago of this body was confirmed as that of a child by excision of the head of the foma and the exposure of the growth line by cutting the head of the bone with a,saw. There were rio discernible mark's of intentional violence. From the description this was the body of Joyce Weight, aged nine years.

“Exhibit C:” The remaining distinct portions of a trunk consisted of a hip joint and charred incomplete portions of a pelvis of generally smaller mass, proportionately and individually less mature bones. There was no evidence of sexual violence. Tlie) description and identification: by elimination tallied with that of Aileen Wright, aged six years. WjBS'TLARE’S BODY.

The body in the living room was decidedly the best preserved, and without doubt that of a tall man. An estimation of his height would be about six feet. It consisted of a fairly complete trunk, neck and front part of the head, the features being charred beyond recognition and the facial bones disclosed.

To Coroner: The back part of the skull was missing f —Burnt. In addition both arms and portions of the forearms were flexed across the chest and the upper part of both thighs were in a state of slight flexion (drawn up slightly). The upper portions of the top and back of the skull were absent. There were no teeth in either jaw bones. Portion of a. burnt shirt and under shirt were distinguishable on the tissues. It was impossible to distinguish any head injuries. The tissues of the chest and abdominal wall in front were carefully peeled in search of wounds, but none were found. Posteriorly the walls were burnt through. The whole of the spinal column was represented. The breast bone and portion of the chest wall in front were removed and inspection revealed no wound. The lungs, greatly shrunken and perieordial sack were intact. The heart,was also shrunken by heat to small proportions. In its altered state it was impossible to form any idea as to any cardiac degeneration. The stomach appeared normal, but was greatly contracted and eon-* tained- a very small amount of digested food. The internal lining membrane of the stomach was apparently normal. There was no indication of an irritant poison present. " From the description supplied him witness, identified the body as that of John Brown Westlake.

THE GROUP IN WRIGHT’S ROOM. '

“Exhibit A” referring to the remains gathered from presumably a child’s cot. These remains were a collection.of calcine bones obviously human few quite intact, corresponding in their extreme immaturity to the child, Prudence Wright,' aged three.

“Exhibit B:” The remains presumably those of Mrs. Wright. Among those were three flat pieces or thin strips of steel, apparently ribs from corsets. The main articulated mass consisted of a fairly complete pelvis of undeterminate sex and five lumbar, and the lower three dorsal yertibrae (the lower portion of the column, in other words were intact).. Deeply (•barred remains of muscles were attached to the bones and it was important to note that the spinal column was intact. Prom among the loose bones around the remains the lower back portion of the skull was recovered (produced) and this with several bones belonging to a spinal column would require separate description for the sake of clarity. \ - . ■

Remains C: —These remains were associated with the perforated skull.

To the iCoroner: What was the sex of the portion of charred trunlki?

It is impossible to say owing to the charred slate whether it was male or female. Referring to the remains associated with the perforated skull. The main articulated mass consisted of partially incomplete pelvis of indeterminable sex, and live vertebra and live dorsal vertebra. The whole of the vertebra was therefore completely represented. On this bone foundation were burnt muscle. The loose portions of bones associated with this trunk were the upper portion of the arm bone, shoulder blade, part of upper and of thigh hope were obviously those of an adult, and the male characteristics of the perforated skull established the sex. Sergt.-Deteetive Quirke: So far four children and three adults are discovered h —Yes. Seigt.-Detective Quirke: And one adult, from position q£ corset.ribs, apparently a female —Yes. To Sergt.-Detective Quirke: In every ease except the child identiti cation of iudijyiduals was facilitated by the survival of portions of the lower half of the trunk. Unfortunately in the case of the three

adults already described the lumber spine, and at, least Iwo of Ihe lower dorsal vertebra, were preserved. At first eight bodies were not discernible, and the establishment of the eighth body depended on I lie discovery of adult lumber vertebra, and one could expect to find these in an extremely calcined condition. From among the loose bones associated with Mrs Wright’s trunk were isolated (five additional lumber vertebra and the extreme

end of the spine. They had all been subjected to an extreme degree of heat, and the ligaments and muscular attachments were completely burned away, and the bones were found separated from each other. Examination proved each vertebra beyond doubt to be lumbar vertebrae, and the last or second lasi dorsal vertebra. THE EIGHTH VICTIM.

To Sergt.-Detective Quirke: These: bones establish that an eighth individual —a fourth adult —undoubtedly perished in the house. Dr. King said that in comparison with a standard vertebrae the bones discovered were identical and proved without doubt that they belonged to a human adult. A medical plate of a human skeleton was produced. The other three adults were all accounted for by the completeness of the bones discovered.

To Sergt.-Detective Quirke: There was a portion of a skull (produced) found alon# with the remains of the individual just.' described, the. eighth victim. This consisted of the portions of the back part of the skull. The bone iwaS generally thick and masculine, and foil* these reasons witness believed the remains to be those of a male skull. 'There was no evidence of intentional violence, and the piece of skull was too small to form any idea as to the size of the head of the individual to which it had belonged. The evidence concerning this portion of the skull, however, was conflicting, and there was not enough of the portion of the skull produced to say to what it belonged. Comparison with that ot' the perforated skull gave conflicting results. They were both portions of adult skulls. To Sergt.-Detective Quirke: It was certain that the bones all belonged to people recently living, and there was no evidence to say that they belonged to old remains. They had airbeen subjected to intense heat at the same time. He could not say that they were all recently covered with flesh, however, but it was quite reason able to say that they had been.

PLAIN OF THE BUILDING. Herbert Henry Rusell, detective, produced a plan of the Westlake building sketched by him from particulars supplied by people who had actually been in the house. DR. WYLLIE’S EVIDENCE. Eric Mervyn Wyllie, medical pvaelitioney, °f Foxton, was called. On the 7th September, lie said, he accompanied the police to the scene of the fire at the Westlake homestead. On arrival there some of the roof iron was found to have been prilled to one side. Constable Owen was with witness, and Detective Russell arrived later. Witness made an examination of the ruins, and discovered three adults and two children, obviously. After a little, further examination the’ body of another child was found with the other two. The bodies were in three groups. The most northerly one in the living room was lying five or six feet from the front door of the buiildiny. The upper half of both -thighs and most of the trunk and chest, arms and upper part of the forbdrm and * charred portions f the head were recognisable. The And consisted of a charred ball ot brain with fragments of bone and orbital ridges, and most of the lower back portion of the skull was outlined. Witness could say positively that the remains were those of a la(rge adult male. The teeth of an upper and lower denture were .-lill in the mouth region.

To Sergt.-Detective Quirke: The denial plate was charred* and destroyed, but the teeth remained.

Ailumt where the feet would be if the legs were burnt, continued Dr. Wjyllie, were the outlines of two hoots. The body had certainly been clothed in a shirt and above that appeared the outline of a vest and outside this was charred tissue which might have been a coat or blazer, or other such garment. The evidence of sex was distinct, and was that of a male, In the children’s room witness discovered portions of skulls and the trunks of two chijdnen were visible. Witness subsequently completely identified a third child alongside the other two by one hip, the outline of an incinerated vertical column, and part of a these portions being present in the remains of the other two bodies. Of these bodies there remained intact: body A, all hones and skull, lront of neck and body and portions of the limbs. This body appeared to he of medium size. Witness also gave corroborative evidence as to the remains of the other two children. In the south-east portion of the building were two .bodies lying on their backs, the head of one towards- the east, and the head of the other towards the •west. Some yards away were the charred remains of a. baby. Of both adults the lower trunks remained definite. On the most easterly body there were in plqee two metal corset stays, and bejow these a. row of hooks and eyes buttoned up. On each side against the body were further metal corset stays. Iu the region of the shoulders were the outlines of the heads of two turn bones of small size, such as one would expect of a female. These, like many other bones, crumbled up on being touched. The skull had fallen off, and bad.disintegrated, but alongside the upper

part of the trunk was portion of the posterin palrt and vault of a skull, also a large perl inn of'frontal bone. Tn (lie same group the body on the west side was almost certainly that of a male. The outline of the upper end of one upper arm bone was visible, and the body were of male size. Frag.meats of skull lay alongside the upper part of the trunk. Of these, one tfailrty well preserved portion of the back and vault of the skull was lying uncovered, ihe interior upwards, and on the left-hand side of this was a round hole showing the typical appearance of a gunshot wound, but of unusual size. Inside of. the bone were adhering some metal of the appearance of had. Witness drew the attention of Constable Bell to the hole, and subsequently handed the specimen to Detective Russell. Witness identified the exhibits produced. Witness made a search of the ashes, and found two sets of knee bones, one mala and the other female, but nothing else' definite either of sex o,r number of persons. On discovering the hole in the skull, witness made careful investigation of all other remains as they lay for wounds, and then carefully lifted them with a stick and examined the backs. The skulls of the bodies in the living room and children’s ibedloom contained charred balls of brain and some outline of the skull, but they were shrunken and defective. Witness srmlcl not discover any evidence of violence on the bodies of those in either of these room's. There were no abnormally broken bones. In the group of bodies from the Wright bedroom the skulls were more extensively destroyed,'but of the frontal bone and bases of the skulls nothing was evident except of the one with the hole.

On September 7th, with Defective Russell, witness made another examination of the skull with the hole in it. The appearance - of this was so typical that witness was convinced that it was made by some spherical body moving through the hone from without with great force. The size of the hole was extraordinary and ton big for any of the ordinary rifles. It was possible that the hole could be caused by a shot gun fired at .close range. On 9th September, in company with Dr. King, witness made a post mortem examination of the remains of the victims of the fire. The bodies taken from the bedroom occupied by the Wright children were first examined, and witness corroborated Dr. King’s evidence concerning the post mortem. Witness considered that all the bones found in the ruins had been recently covered with flesh, and all Ihe bones which went to establish ihe identity of the eighth person were present in all the other bodies. These consisted of lumbar and dorsal bones. Witness was of opinion that the portion, of skull found in the Wright bedroom, although next, lo that of the female, was not from the other adult skull with the hole jin it, and it was portion of a male skull, this assisting in estab - lishing the fact that the remains of eight individuals were discovered. The remains of eight bodies, four adults and four'children, all recently living, were discovered. At this stage the inquest was adjoined for luncheon.