THE HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40011, 17 October 1929, Page 2

THE HIMATANGI TRAGEDY.

CONCLUSION OF CORONIA'L

INQUIRY.

THE CORONER’S VERDICT. The into the Himatangi fire tragedy was continued on Tuesday afternoon and concluded yesterday at the local courthouse, before Mr. Alf. Fraser (coroner). EVIDENCE OF DETECTIVE. On the resumption of proceedings after the luncheon adjournment, Detective Russell, of Palmerston North, produced a plan of the burnt homestead. He .stated that, on September i last, he proceeded to Hainesse and arrived at the scene of the tire at 3.30 P-m. He lound Constables Owen and Hell, with Dr. Wyllie, ol l-’oxton, already there. The rooting iron, which was still hot, had jiist been removed front the debris. An examination was then conducted and the discovery was made of one charred body in the kitchen, with the lower parts of the leg completely burned off. The features were burned beyond recognition. About where the feet were was the ‘burnt outline of what appeared to have been a pair of boots. It was impossible to preserve it, as it powdered completely on being touched. In what was apparently the ■ children’s bedroom were found the remains oi what were taken to he the bodies of three children, all burned beyond recognition. On two of the bodies portions of the flesh remained. In what was assumed to he the Wrights’ bedroom were found bones which were presumably' those of two adults. Alongside the hones of one of the bodies were thin strips of steel, apparently the ribs of corsets. There was also on the same body a complete .set of clasps for a pair of corsets. In I lie same room on apparently what bad been a wire mattress were found a quantity of small hones, evidently those of a very young child. Nothing remained in the’ room except bones, and identification was impossible. Notone of the bodies was disturbed until they bad been examined by Dr. Wyllie. In the bedroom known as the Wrights’ room were lying two adult bodies, the one with the head in a uoith-easterly direction having the remains of the corsets on it. The other was Iving with the head in a northwesterly direction. The skull of the latter, on examination by Dr. Wyllie, was found to have a hole in it, and the doctor pointed that out, stating then that it might have been caused by .Mime freak of the fife. The head had a small piece of lead inside it, but the doctor had stated, at that time, that lie did not attach much importance to it, as it might have come from some of the lead-headed nails off the roof. The doctor handed the skull to witness, but on account of its very fragile condition it was impossible to carry it in its original condition. After the examination all the bodies were placed in separate packages and conveyed on a .motor-lorry to the Foxtou mortuary. FINDING OF SHOTGUN. “Wilde making an examination of the debris,” said witness, “I saw the remnants of a double barrelled shotgun (produced). It was lying in the room which occupied the south-west corner of the building. At about 7.30 p.in. the same evening Dr. Wyllie called at the Foxtou Police Station,- and made a further examination of the skull. He then made the suggestion that the hole in it consisted of a gunshot wound, and the more lie examined it the more certain he felt. I then took the skull to Palmerston North and submitted it to Dr. King for a further examination. He reassembled part of it while I was there and stated that, in his opinion, the hole was cerlainly that of a gunshot wound, jiointing out that the inner side of the skull and general appearance of the hole were typical of the text-hook description of a gunshot wound.” On Monday September 9, witness said, lie accompanied l)r. King and Dr. Wyllie to the morgue at Foxtou for the.purpose of being present at a postmortem examination which was made. From the remains presumed to be those of Mrs Wright were isolated others which were definitely human, positively identifying the presence of another adult body in the Wrights’ bedroom. The bones apparently were matured and, from the description of the inmates of the house, were identified as being the remains of either Thomas Wright or Samuel Hewitt Thomson.

“The fact that these bones were not at first identified as those of a separate body may be accounted for by their fragile condition, as those in the particular room would powder in the hand. When the roof had fallen, part of it would strike the bones and when the iron was pulled off they may have been powdered and certainly would have mived with the other bodies in oloce proximity.

' “In none of the bodies examined

at the morgue could any sign of violence be traced.” added witness. • “The only adult with any portion of file internal organs was the body presumed to be that of John Brown Westlake.”

Senior-Detective Quirke, Constables Owen and Miller and witness made a further examination of the debris at the erene of the fire and then found the remains of twelve 12 gauge shotgun cartridges (produced), eleven of which had been fired.

“We also found the remains of two slashers, one carving knife, a bread knife and one razor, all of which are produced,” added witness. “The front door lock and that of an inside door were also found unlocked, and the hasp of the front door lock was also found in perfect condition. All of these were found in the living-room with the exception of the razor; which was found in Westlake’s room.

NO STRANGERS SEEN. “Inquiries- have been made by Senior-Detective Qnirkc and myself at all the farms surrounding.- the Barber Estate. We interviewed C. Renata •Tawhai Truera and C. J. Jessop, Kauri Pa tea, Mrs King, Sydney Taiwhanga and Samuel Gilmore. On the Himatangi side we interviewed Mr Cadogan. Holorini, and Mr Kder, On the Rangiotu or Bainesse side we interviewed \Y. Ilino, A. Turangi, J. Akuira, J. Mann, G. Morris. J. R. Baker, P. E. Jones, 1). Mullin and W. M. Griffin. “In no instance was there any suggestion that any stranger was seen about the neighbourhood on the Friday night of the fire. All these people, which included those on the Barber Estate, stated that in their opinion it would be impossible for a stranger to find Westlake’s farm without knowing the way. If a stranger attempted to find the house he would be nearly sure to strike one of the others first.

“Inquiries have l>eeii made from all the vendors of poison in the Palmerston North, Rongotea and Fpxtoji districts. In no instance was there any evidence of any poison of any description being supplied to Westlake, Wright, Thomson or any member of the household. Every person supplied with poison in the Bainesse, Himatangi, Rongotea and Foxton districts has been interviewed and has given an ex-planar tion of the poison supplied. In no instance was any poison supplied to Westlake or members of his household,

MR LARGE ESTATE “Inquiries have also been made regarding the position of nil the members 05 Mr Westlake’s household. Mr , Westlake owned an estate valued at: approximately £‘30,000 or . £40,000. Since JUay fi'of this year, according to his bank pass-lxiok, lie has only drawn one cheque. This was for £3 on July 10 of this year. He drew two large cheque* on August 22, 1920, one for £2OO and the other for £658 15s. Both these ‘were made payable to Messrs Innes and Oakloy solicitors, of Palmerston North. The cheques were for the purpose of paying off two mortgages and the money was actually received and applied to the purpose. He appears to have worked on his banking account for all busihess transactions. -All interest becoming due has been usually paid direct into one of his banking accounts. He appears to have paid all his accounts by cheque, even for his board. “All iiis papers were left in a very methodical and businesslike manner. He appears to have left nothing to chance and from the manner of working on his banking account I should say he was not a man likely to have carried much money with him. “Mr Wright was. working for hun on a basis of 40 per cent, for Air Westlake and 60 per cent, for" himself. An agreement in the hands of the police was drawn up and signed on these terms. Mr Wright started with Mr Westlake on July 1, 1929, according to the agreement. Cream was being supplied to the New Zealand Dairy Farmers’ Union.' No payment had been made to Mr Wright for cream supplied since he had been on Mr Westlake’s farm. The first payment had become due and the cheques were actually made out, but not paid. A bill of sale was held over Mr Wright’s cattle, horses, and implements by the New Zealand Dairy Farmers’ Union. The bill was taken over on February 4 1926, the amount, being for £SOO. At the date of the fire there was still owing under the bill -of sale £424, including interest. He had to quit his farm at Rongotea 011 acccount of being £525 in arrears of interest, in consideration of which Jie signed an order back to the trustees of the Davis Estate. They gave him a clean receipt for the full amount owing. He was also owing £47 in respect of lighting and [lower supplied to the farm at Rongotea. On September 2, a cheque for £l7 3s 5d was paid to Mr Wright bythe New' Zealand Dairy Farmers’ Union on account of a bonus, £lO having been deducted for interest overdue on the bill of sale. The proceeds of this) cheque were paid into the credit of Mr Wright’s account at the Bank of New Zealand, Palmerston North, on September' 3, 1929. The last time he operated on his account was 011 April 3, 1929. “Mr Thomson did not possess any assets or liabilities beyond owning a horse, gig, saddle and bridle, all of which were on the farm at Bain esse.”

CARTRIDGES SCATTERED ABOUT

Mr Petersen,: I take it, Detective llussell, that the house was of comparatively sma’\l size. When you examined the ruins were the partitions clearly definable?

Detective Russell: No, except that of the living room. The place was originally a ’whare. I can only give the position of the rooms approximately on what I was told.

Air Petersen: Where did you find the pieces of the gun Detective Russell: In Afr Westlake’s room.

Mr Petersen:, Were both hammers of the gun down or cocked? Detective Russell: I could not definitely say. I don’t think that they were cocked. There was no cartridge in the breach of the gun. Air Petersen: Was any cartridge found in the Wrights’ bedroom. Detective Russell: So far as I can ascertain all were found in the living room area, but there, again, it is difficult to say. All but one had been fired. „Mv Petersen: Were the cartridges found in a heap or all scattered about. Detective Russell: All scattered about. I could not say where they had -been kept. Mr Petersen: Could you definitely decide that the remains of two adult male bodies were found in the Wrights’ room? • .

Detective Russell: The remains of two adult male bodies certainly came out of that room or the vicinity.

Air Petersen: Then there is nothing to identify whose skull has the hole in it?

Detective Russell: No, we cannot identify it. We can draw no conclusion' at all, and I understand that it is impossible to do so from the medical point of view.

The next witness was Maurice Gado : . gan. aged twelve years, a pupil of the Foxton School. He resides with his parents at Hirnntangi about 1-1 miles from the Westlake farm. He had (been on the property, he said, and juiew Messrs Westlake, Wright and Thomson. He was last on the farm in j July 4ast. Mr Westlake went out on a home about a week before the tire. Witness saw Mr Thomson at 11 a.in. on Friday, the day of the fire. . The latter was driving a horse and cart towards Mr Westlake’s place. , Constable H. Cole, in charge of the Arms Office for the Palmerston North police district, testified that Ire kept a record of all firearms registered in the area which included Rougotea, Foxton and Himatangi. Thomas Wright farmer of Rongotea, had a double-barrelled twelve bore shotgun, registered No. 7973. The number ol the gun found in the ruins and produced was identical. - No gun resembling it or any other weapon was registered in the name o! Westlake <>r Thomson. ' PASSER-BY' SEES FIRE. William T. Hooker, bailiff of Palmerfiton North, gave evidence that, on the night of the fire. September G, at 11.25 p.m,, he was proceeding from Foxton. When he turned the corner at Himatangi he noticed a fire to his right. It was about two miles away and in the direction of the centre of Barber’s'Estate. It was not big at first but gradually grew larger. He kept the fire in view for about a quarter of an hour. He arrived at I almerston North at 12.30 a.m. on Soptembei\o 7. He knew the location of Mr Westlake’s farm and the fire was in that direction. At the tune lie thought' it was very close Hines’s place. There was a ‘‘bit, of westerly wind blowing hind it appeared to be scrub fire. He could not sec the blaze but just the red glow with black smoke overhead. William Hines, a Maori farmer, residing on part ol the Burlier Estate in the Bainesse direction, and about 1 f miles from the Westlake homestead, stated that he knew Mr Crowe, the former occupant of the farm, but had only been on the farm once since he left, to see Mr Westlake. This was long before tlie fire. Air Westlake was adding a partition to the original building. Witness did not go inside the hew portion, but lie knew the old portion. Detailing the axe incident, witness stated that he liarl used the axe at the Westlake farm to out up a carcase, when in charge of tiie estate, and had just put it down with blood on it before Air Robinson arrived and saw it. MRS KING’S EVIDENCE. Evidence was given by Airs Gertrude Alary King, residing at Rangiotu. that she knew the AVright Family. There were four children, the eldest being Joyce, aged 9. The others were Brian, aged 8. Aileen, aged 6, and Prudence, aged 3. Witness knew Airs Alright who had been a school-

mate of hers. She had visited the house several times, '('lie last occasion was on August 4. She had seen Air Thomson and Afr Westlake at limes. Witness stated that as far as she knew Afr and Airs Wright occupied the east! rly bedroom at the end of the house, and two children slept in tlie settee 111 that room. Two more children slept in the middle room and apparently the third was occupied by Messrs. Westlake and Thomson. One day when witness was at the homestead the lower part of a big window in the children’s bedroom was wide open. As far as she knew Afr Westlake erected the additions to the house. There was 110 lining and no ceiling. There was wood under the iron in Airs WrigliUs bedroom. Afeals were cooked on a little Dover stove built on zinc or tin in the living-room. The partitions between the rooms, she thought, went right, up to the roof. As far as she knew all the occupants of the house were 011 good terms with each other. The only occupants would be the Wright family and Afessrs. Westlake and Thohson. To her knowledge there were never any visitors. Not many strangers come in to the locality. Replying to Air Petersen witness said that, as far as she knew, Air and Mrs Wright were on good terms and she had no reason to believe that Air Wright was not a good husband. She first visited Airs Wright on July / and she saw her again on August 4. Airs Wright visited her last on August 25 and left again on August 31. There was quite a good atmosphere 111 the Wright home. The children were very fond of their father. - To the Coron ol , witness said that Mr Thomson brought Airs AVright to her house and came in on two occasions looking for the children. He had been with the Wrights’ for six years and they were apparently quite satisfied with him. DISCOVERY OF TRAGEDY. Kauri Patea, a married Alaori and shepherd for Air Renton, manager of the Barber Estate, stated that he lived at Papakiri, about two miles from the burnt house. He knew Air Westlake bill, did not know the others. He la-st saw Air Westlake about seven weeks before the fire. He remembered the night of the fire when he was at his home with his family and others, playjng bridge. At 11 p.in. be retired, and nil remained at the house that night. Next morning, on the Saturday, at 10.30 a.in., he was riding round looking over the sheep. He failed to notice the Westlake homestead, and went up through the gate. “I went ujS to the cow-bads, continued witness, “and found the fire. I rode to the fence around the house and saw nobody. Everything was black. T thought that everybody had escaped. Later, 1 went to Mr Cadogan’s. I walked over to the house and said: ‘ls Air Wright here’ and he said ‘No.’ Then I said: ‘The house is burned. ' There is nobody there.’- We went back to the tire and examined it. We saw a body, the one near the door. Then we went round and saw the bodies of two children. I saw the ribs of another under the tin. I then went to Air Hines’s place to telephone to Rangiotu to tell the police at Foxton.” Later, Constable Owen arrived and witness conducted him to the scene of the fire. That was all he knew about it. . John Symons, a blacksmith in business at Foxton, testified that he spoke to Air Westlake a fortnight before the fire. He wanted a wheel spanner and witness concluded arrangements to make one. Between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on September 6 last, Air Westlake came in. It was on the day of the tragedy. “He seemed to be much quieter than usual,” added witness. “His sight was very bad and he was wearing glasses.” Witness did not supply Air Westlake with the spanner and he took away his own.

Constable Robert Owen, of Foxton, stated that, at 1.20 p.m. on September 7, he received 'advice of the fire on Air Westlake’s property, and -that at least five persons had been burned to death. He reported the matter to the Coroner and the Inspector of Police at Palmerston North, and, acting on instructions, proceeded to the scene with Dr Wyllie and also Constable Bell, a motor lorry being taken. Dr Wyllie made an examination and handed a skull to Detective llussell. Witness knew the late Air Westlake by Bight. He found a spectacle lens by the side of the head of the body in the living room. The remains of spectacle wire adhered to the lens. Dr Wyllie removed some artificial teeth from the mouth. Witness corroborated the evidence given concerning the position of the bodies, and the finding of various articles. All ,the cartridge butts, he would say, were found in the livingroom.

Replying to Mr Petersen, witness stated that the condition of the locks showed that they had not been looked. Alaurice Osborne, a clerk in the court at Palmerston North, produced the copy of an instrument by way of security registered in-the Supreme Court on February 5, 1926, by Thomas AVright, dairy farmer, of Rongotea, grantor, to the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, Ltd., for the sum of £SOO and further advances.

SEEN THROUGH FIELD GLASSES.

Evidence was given by William Alaurice Griffin, a foreman employed by Mr W. Renton on the Barber Estate. He knew Air Westlake’s farm, and knew tire owner, as well a.s Air YVright. He last spoke to Air Westlake four or five days prior to the fire. Subsequently Mr Wright came along for a lew'minutes. “Wright and Westlake appeared to be on very good terms then,” said witness. “J know Air Thomson just by sight. I had never been in Air Westlake’s house since Air Wright had been there.

“Some'days before the l ire 1 was standing on a ridge with fieldglasses, about half a mile from Air Westlake’s house. There was a perfect view of the homestead and the vicinity. Something attracted my attention. I saw three men out in front of Mr Westlake’s house. They were together at first and then there was one, whom 1 took to be Air Thomson. He walked a wav from the other two whom I took to be Mr Westlake and Mr AVright, and ran back, and repeated that on several occasions.

“Although I was not terribly interested, J thought their behaviour rather peculiar. 1 formed the opinion at the time that they were having an argument. I was about half a mile away and watched the scene for two or three minutes. It / was only bv the size of Air Thomson, who was the smallest of the three, and sliinly built, that 1 could distinguish him.

“There were only three men known to be on .the property so far as my knowledge was concerned. It would be difficult lor a stranger to find the place unless he took some time. I have never heard of any. disagreement between any of the parties on

the property.” Mr Petersen (counsel for Mr AV. Remnant, father of Airs AVright): Did vou know the Wright family? AVitrfess: Only Airs AVright. Mr Petersen: Yon had not heard ot any disagreement between members of the household?

Witness: No, when 1 met Air AA’estlalce before the fire he passed the remark that Air, AVright was one of the fairest men he had ever met. Air Petersen: When you were watching this group through the field glasses you could not possibly identify the three men?

Witness: No, it was merely from the smaller man’s demeanour that I concluded there was something like an argument going on. Mr Petersen: Some of the members of the patty may have been strangers or visitors to the.place? Witness: Yes.

Witness added, that the group was standing in an open space a chain or a chain and a half from the house. The third figure was approaching the cowbails. It was some time in the afternoon.

Air Petersen: There was nothing i,n the demeanour of the other two men to show that they were active participants in a quarrel or argument? Witness; No, only the third man. Replying to the' Coroner, witness stated that Air Westlake’s house was nearest those of Airs King and Air Cadogan, which were each about one and a quarter miles away. James George Coley, a labourer residing in Cook Street, Foxton, stated that, on Friday, September 6 last, he saw Air Westlake between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on the Himatangi Road, proceeding to Foxton. Witness saw him again between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. that day, apparently returning home. He was about one quarter of a mile on the Foxton side of the gate leading from the road. When Air Westlake passed witness in the morning lie spoke to him about drainage pipes and nodded again in the evening. NATURE OF BUILDING. ArLhur Robert Crowe stated that he was' a farm labourer on the Barber Estate. He bad owned the property on which the fire occurred, it having been, bought by Air Westlake from him in February of this year. At that time there was only a two-roomed whare on the place, it was about 22 feet by twelve, divided into two rooms,- 10 by 12 and 12 by 12 respectively. AD 1 Westlake subsequently added a lean-to which from appearance contained two rooms. There were two windows, so far as he could see, one at the back of the east end of the additions (the Wrights’ room) and one at the centre. The new portion appeared from the outside to be a poor job. He could not say whether the windows were movable, but those in the old jxn'tion were. The house was about 2£ miles from the Bainesse Read and three miles from the Himatangi station. There was no formed road in, and a stranger would be unable to find the property unless he was directed to it. Witness considered it impossible for a stranger to find the house at night. The nearest house was that of Airs King, and the nearest others were Jeremiah Cadogan and William Hines, in different directions, the former being II to U miles away and the latter lV'’Lo 1j miles distant.’ None of these houses was within view ot the Westlake homestead. He knew nobody likely to hear Air Westlake any malice, and nobody was anxious to secure the place he was on. Witness knew of no one who bore any malice towards other members of the household. He had never heard of any trouble lietween Messrs Wright, Westlake and Thomson, All the neighbours within a distance were really good, respectable people. “NOT FIT TO LIVE IN.”

Thomas King, at present employed as a farm manager at Stratford, stated that he was previously employed by Air J. B. ’Westlake on wages at his farm in Himatangi. Tht AVright family succeeded him, but he did not know them or Mr Thomson. Air Westlake lived on the farm for n week or four days while witness was in occupation, and paid a flying visit on two occasions. “My reason for leaving ivas because the house was not fit to live in. There were four rooms besides a verandah in front. Mr Westlake’s room was entered through a gap in the curtain, about eighteen inches wide. There was only one door leading out of the dwelling. There were two windows in the new 7 addition. They were nailed when I was there, but the other people took them out and propped them with.wood. There were no sash weights.” HOUSE CHUCKED TOGETHER,

Detective Russell submitted a statement by E. Moles, of Linton, a formjetr share-milker for Westlake, who was unable to attend the inquest as a witness owing to a fall from a horse.

In his statement Moles said lie was sharemilking for Westlake between February and April last. He was working on Avages for about three months and left on his own accord. He added that .Westlake was a very close man and good tempered. The only trouble he had had with him was over some milk. A stranger could not find his way to the farmhouse Avhich wasn’t built; it was only chusked together. In his opinion the place was a death trap. Westlalke. told Aides he was totally blind in one eye and the other one was failing fast. AVhen on the farm he had to lead Westlake to his tent. The windows were all nailed so that they would only go up six in'ches and had hoards across. Westlake always asked Aloles to go and meet him if he was not home before dark.

Norman H. Knight, farmer, of Rongotea, told the coroner that lie knew the Wrights and the young man Thomson well. The latter Avas a “hit soft,” a good worker and pleasant tempered seemingly. Wright was also a good neighbour. On August 25, after the Wrights had left Rongotea, Thomson called to collect a double-barrelled gun that witness had borrowed from AVright. The lad said he wanted it to shoot a few hares with.

The next witness was Mrs. E. AI. Howell, of Hereford Street, Palmerston North, who formerly resided at Rongotea and kncAV Air. and Airs. Wright, who were frequent visitors at witness’s house. Airs. Wright mas a close friend of hers her a confidant. “Once I was going to town about three weeks before they left Kqugotea. and Airs. AVright came out to me stating that Tom was so funny she didn’t like leaving the place. She didn’t say what the trouble was.” On another occasion a short time before they left the farm, Avitness was at AD’S. Wright’s house. After Air. Weight went out, Airs. Wright said:

“It has been terrible. Tom has threatened to take his life twice.”

Airs. Wright was crying and sobbing —in fact, very distressed. She told me it Avas financial worry that ay as making the trouble. Airs. Wright said the mortgagees Avere pushing them and they hadn’t the money to meet due payments. She added that she didn’t think her husband could stand the strain, he was very sensitive and Avouldn’t like his