DEATH OF BUILDER

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4437, 8 April 1930, Page 4

DEATH OF BUILDER

INQUEST ON LATE W. E. PRICE. SON’S EVIDENCE. Palmerston North, Saturday. Evidence dealing with the circumstances of the death of the Palmerston North builder, Walter Echvm lricc, who was found shot in his homo on March 4 last, was continued bcloro me Coroner, Mr J. L. Stout, S.AI., yesterday afternoon, when there ’'as lengthy cross-examination. Deceased s son” John Price, was the chief witness, and he detailed the facts associated with the discovery of his father’s body. When the proceedings were adjourned at 5 p.m., nine witnesses of the twenytwo called had been heard. , Continuing }iis -evidence, John I nco stated that it was not the custom in tho house to wake one another up, but his father was exceptionally late in rising on the day of the tragedy. Wilsons were the nearest neighbours. Mr Innes: Yau havcp always lived with your parents ? —Yes, except lor one year. Mr Innes: Were you on affectionate terms with your father and mother P Yes. Mr Innes: Was your father on aftectionlate 'terms with your mlother. j\lr Innes: You hail no disputes whatever with your lather yourself P No. Mr Innes: How long had your mother been away before your lather’s death?—Four days. Mr Innes: What time did you and your father usually have breakfast? — About 7 a.m. or 7.30 a.m. My father usually rose at about G. 30 a.m. My usual time was 7 a.m. Mr Innes: Your father was invariably up before you. then?- —Yes. Mr Junes: Was your father in the 1 1 a bit of dismissing bis financial matters or business concerns with you. No.. . , Mr Tillies: Wlii'ii did you first, know your father’s life was insured? —A few months ago.

Mr Inhos: How did you discover that? —When the agent came round. Mr Innes: How did you know your father’s life was insured?—l heard him tell my mother ho was insured now.

Mr Innes: Did you know that tho life policy became void if the insured person committed suicide within twelve months? Witness: No, not within twelve months. 1 thought it. was not payable at all in the event of suicide. Mr Innes: Where did you obtain that information? It is unusual for a boy of sixteen. It could not just come into your head. Did you see your father’s policy? —No. Mr Times: Did you know bcloro your father’s death that the policy had been taken out? —Yes. Mr Innes: Did you know that your father had made a will? Witness: Yes. Ho said if lie died lie would leave it to us boys. Mr Innes: How long'ago was that? —About a year. Air Innes: Was your mother present at the time? —I think that she was. Mr Innes: Have you mentioned to anyone tho matter of part of the insurance money for you? —No, sir. EVIDENCE ABOUT GUN. Mr Junes: Have you over fired a gun ? Witness: J have fired a poa-riflo and have fired a .303 rifle with cadets. Mr Limes: You understand the loading or unloading of a gun? Witness: I do of a .303 or .22. The Coroner: Have you ever handled a shotgun ? Witness: J have once. My father sold it in 1923 on the Hnuraki Plains 1 . I never shot with it. Mr Times: You have a bicycle, 1 think. Were you out on your bicycle tile night your father died? —No. sir (alter hesitation).

Air Limes: Why do you hesitate? —I was just recalling the night. Mr Innes: Do you drive a car? Was it out that night?—No. Mr Innes: Do you know of any reason why you father should destroy himself? Had lie any troubles? —No. sir. The Coroner: Why did your father mention to your mother that lie was insured? —In ease an aecidenl happened. Tlie Coroner: Did your lather give you any indication what other property hi' lmd? —Only some foundry shares. Air Innes: After you went to bed on the night your father died, you say you heard no sound at night although both your door and your father's door were open?—No, sir. . Air Innes: Were all the doors and windows secured? —No, it was not our custom.

The Coroner: Did you see any indication in tho liouso on the Wednesday morning of a stranger having been present? Nothing was disarranged?— No, sir. Explaining to Air limes why he should not have heard any noi.so, witness said that ho had had no sleep on the two previous nights owing to an injured wrist and, consequently, lie slept well on the Wednesday night. Mr Lines: Had you ever known your father to stay in bed so long before?—Not on any week day.

Mr limes: Had you evor seen a corpse before? —Yes, my grandmother's. Mr limes: When you touched your father’s foot you concluded ho was dead? —Yes, because it was stiff and cold.

Air limes: Did you call your father? —I cannot remember.

Air Lines: Did you see his face? — No, tlie blinds wero down. The Coroner: Did von look any further? —No.

The Coroner: Did you do anything more than touch your father’s loot to see if lie were dead? —I moved his toot and found it stiff.

The Coroner: That is something new which you have told us.

SON SUPPORTS MURDER THEORY. Afr Lines: Have you formed any opinion yourself of how your father was shot ? Witness: I helievo that he did not kill himself. Mr Lines: Do you know who did? Witness: No.

Mr Lines: What makes you think that your father did not commit suicide?

Witness: Because lie was in such good spirits. Air limes: He was in very good spirits then, although only a few words passed between you? Witness: Yes, my father was reading at the table. Air limes: You were not. out of the house aIL that night and you know that a shot was fired, a few feet away from you. Can you explain why you did not hear it?—Well, sir, 1 sleep heavily on occasions. Mr lnnes: You slept heavily on that particular night?—l had been accustomed to sleeping with the blankets over my head.

Air Cooper: You say that you used to get breakfast at 7 ami. or 7.d0 a.m. ?—Yes. . . , . Air Cooper: On this \\ ednesday morning when you went to the kitchen did it give you a shock to find it so late?— i was surprised to find it 8 a. in. Air Cooper: Did you know, then, that your father was not up?—No. Air Cooper: What caused you to change vour mind and return from the bathroom to awaken your father? —It was getting late. Air Cooper: Did you step inside tho bedroom? —About one step. Air Cooper: When you stepped into the room you could see tlie whole of your father’s body?—Yes. Air Cooper: Did you not say anything to him?—l cannot say. Tho Coroner: How long had your father been used to sleeping on the floor? —I cannot say. We were used to camping out.

.Mr Cooper: Have you ever seen your father sleeping, on tile low occasions ho was on the lloor. with his head under the lied?- •No, sir. Answering further questions, witness .slated the bov Kay Wilson was aged or (S. Witness was certain lie had ivo conversations with him. .Mr Cooper: Then cannot you be equally certain that you did not tell him your father was shot before Dr. King arrived at night?—l cannot he certain. . Air Cooper: Arc you certain whether you told him at all whether your father vras shot?—l cannot lie certain. I don't know. Air Cooper: Will you deny the boy’s statement if be said that your father had been shot? —Acs, I. would. Air Al’cGregor: You .say this second conversation with the Wilson boy took place when you were feeding tho fowls? —Yes. Air AlcGregor: You went to the station at about 5 p.m. with Air Nagel. Can you remember whether you foil the fowls before that?—l can't remember. It was probably hirer. Witness adtled that after leaving the station lie walked with Air Nagel along Waldogravo Street to Feathersi on Street. Air Nagel stopped to speak to a friend and witness went round to Pascal Street. He went back to meet Air Nagel, who had gone, and so he went homo.

Air AlcGregor: Dr. King has told us that he arrived at 5.5 o’clock that night. It would be shortly after you arrived homo? —Yes. about ten minutes.

.Senior-Detective Quirke: AYas it usual for your father to have the blinds down?—lt all depends. I don't know. Air Quirke: Do you know whether these windows were open or shut on the Wednesday morning? —1 could not cay. NEIGHBOUR’S EYIDEXCK.

Edward Wilson, oi 71 Featherston Si reel, motor company manager, said that at 12.35 a.in. oil ihe day ol Air Price's death he arrived home with his wife and a friend. Air R- Alcikle. AYhilo talking to his wife he heard the sharp report of a gun at 12.50 a.m. The sound seemed to come, from Price’s •section. Just after the report lie heard a squeal. It might have been that of a eat. He mentioned it to Air Alcikle, wlm went out on to the verandah, but returned saying that lie could not hear anvtiling, so they retired ior the night. On the way home they had come via Pascal Street in a car. He did not. notice any lights in Price’s house. At 4.15 p.m. on the same day his wile rang him and he went home, whereupon he was informed i hat Air Price was dead. At Lea at (i p.m. the five-year-old son of witness said: "3 ho lime.'.' boy .said ins lather shot liiiuscll. The Coroner: Do you know_ where your little boy wa.s between 5 and 0 p.m.? —It would help us very much ll we knew when ho was out a second time. I would like io know very much whether it was between o p.m. and (1 j>. in. Witness said ho understood that Ins l.nv was not out between 5.30 p.m. and 5.15 p.m. His wife might know. The Coroner: It is very important. Witness added that, lie had seen Air Price the day before the tragedy_ and deceased seemed in very good spirits. Witness made a payment of £2O to him in notes lor interest payments as lie had missed the solicitor.

Replying to Air AlcGregor, wit nous stated that he first went home at -l.4<> o'clock, on the Wednesday evening and discussed the tragedy with his wile, who had previously discussed it with her little hoy, but'at that time there bail beeii-iio mention of Air Price having been shot.

Air AlcGregor: 1 suppose you know dial the money which you paid on account, of interest to Air Price line still to he discovered? I have heard that. I did not inquire. Sen ior-Detect ive Qui rke i n lormed ihe Coroner that from 0.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. that night the witness John Price had no opportunity of speaking tu the boy Wilson, as he was in sight all the time.

11 is Wore hip staled that the matter was not- one lor a rgumeu t, hut one which had to be inquired into. Boss Nathaniel Alcikle. picture theatre manager, was the next witness, lie said he resided with Air Wilson at til Featherston Street, the house being next to that occupied hv deceased. With Air and Airs Wilson lie arrived home at 12.30 a.m. on Atari'll 5. Price's house wa.s in darkness. He heard a shot at 12.50 a.m. and went out oil to the verandah. _ Nothing unusual seemed to be happening so lie returned into the house. The sound came from the direction of Price s house and apjrcared like a gunshot. Thai afternoon Airs Wilson telephoned him at about I p.m. and he thought she sa.id that the hoy, her son, had told her that ‘•funny boy" bad said Air Price had shot himself. She said she had spoken to John Price, who had told her that his lather had died ol haemorrhage. Replying iu Air .McGregor, witness said his opinion was that Airs \\ ilson had informed him over the telephone of what her hoy had said, although she had no recollection of it. The hoy was quite sure of what had boon told him.