DEATH OF COLLEGE BOYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40034, 3 December 1929, Page 3

DEATH OF COLLEGE BOYS.

* ONE POISONED AND ONE ;SHOT,

Christchurch, November 30

Among four fatalities, which have been reported to the police headquarters in Christchurch within the past twenty-four hours, arc those of Richard Daniel Duder, aged 17, a student at Lincoln Agricultural College, who died in hospital from the effects of poisoning, and Keith Rennie Miller,; aged 17, a High School pupil, who was found dead' with a bullet wound in his head.

A recent arrival from England, and a two days’ resident at Lincoln Agricultural College, where ho had enrolled as a student, Duder collapsed in Ricearton Road last evening and died In ter from/ the effects of poisoning.j

INQUEST ON DUDER

An inquest was opened at the hospital this morning before Mr. E. C. Levvey, Coroner. Robert Edward Alexander, principal of the college, gave evidence of identification. He first heard of deceased when in May last lie had a letter from Dialer's mother, in Sussex, England, asking for his admission to the college. Deceased arrived by the Rangitiki on November 3. He came to see witness l.he next evening. Deceased was not to be'enrolled as a student until January, 1930, but witness offered to allow him to stay at the college provided he would work until -that time to gain experience. This Duder refused, saying that he wished to see M|r. IT. T. Knight, ol Racecourse Hill, to whom he had an introduction. He heard from Mr. Knight later that deceased had gone to stay with Sir Bruce Stewart, of Pigeon (Bay, until the college closed on December 17. On November 25 deceased rang him and asked him if he might go to tbe college on Tuesday evening. Witness agreed on the previously laid down conditions. He bad a short discussion with deceased when he arrived. Duder worked in the chemical laboratory on Wednesday and on the farm until noon on Friday. There was no medical examination, but deceased seemed quite all right. He had been a prominent boxer and cricketer at bis college at Home. About 1.30 p.rn. on Friday, said witness, deceased intruded on a conference witness Was having with a Government .official and asked to see him urgently. Witness inquired what he wanted and deceased said “I either don’t like this life or I don’t like the country.” He then turned away rathetr abruptly and nsked r “Are you imy guardian?” Witness replied, “No.” “Well,” deceased said, “I can do what I like.” “Certainly not,” replied witness, “without tbe authority of your parents.” He asked: “Can I cable my parents? It is better to decide now than at tbe end of two years at tbe college®’ Witness agreed with him. and deceased a sliced if be could go to (Christchurch to cable. Witness asked him the reason for tbe hurry, saying that it would be better and cheaper to cable during the weekend. Deceased said: “There is no difference in the price; I inquired about that earlier.” Duder then left before witness could speak fur!her with him. Deceased was very nervous at the interview, but witness thought that it was because he bad intruded. AYitness was in an awkward position at the time or he would have detained deceased and ■reasoned with him.

The inquest was adjourned sine die.

THE CASE OF MILLER

Miller, the pupil at. the Christchurch Boys’ High 'School, was found dead in the school grounds at 6 a.in. to-day. There was a revolver beside the body and a bullet wound in the head. Miller, who was a son of Mr. J. Miller, S.M., of Masterton, was not a robust' boy. Last year lie suffered from an attack of scarlet 'fever. Death probably took place last night, since the body when found showed that Miller had been dead fotr some hours. The body was found at (he foot of the Old Boys’ Memorial Shrine in the playing field of the school. Clutched in one hand was a revolver with one chamber discharged. A message of three words written on a scrap of paper was left ’by the body: “See Dr. : giving the name Ojf n well-known < itv medical man. •

The headmaster, Mr. G. Lancaster, said that the boy was of a nervous disposition and had Omen worrying about, his examinations. Last year he had suffered from an attack of scarlet fever ia«d';had jlioen left in a nervous condition. Miller’s father, Mir. J. Miller, was Registrar of the Supreme Court at Christchurch until the end of last year, when he was elevated to the Magisterial, Bench. The tragic occurrence led to the jvostponemont of all cricket matches at the school to-day.