THE PUKEKAWA TRAGEDY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 453, 28 February 1919, Page 2

THE PUKEKAWA TRAGEDY.

Coroner's Verdict

The enquiry by the District Coroner (Mr 0. Roadley) concerning; the death of the lad, Norman Walter Wright, whose dead body was found on Wednesday of last week on the roadside at Pukekawa, under circumstances as already reported, was concluded at the Fukekohe Courthouse on Wednesday. Joseph Cobin?, taxi proprietor, of Papatoetoe, deposed that about nine o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, February 19th, deceased called at his garage and asked if he would take him to Otahuhu to catch the Rotorua express. Deceased was sitting in a gig at the time, and he instructed witness to call at his father's house for him at 9.30, which he did. Deceased came out of the house with a gun, a sugar-bag, and another bag, and appeared to be going out for a day's shooting. He got into the car, and they drove away. Nothing much was said until nearing the Otahuhu railway station, when witness said " Are yon going out for] a day's shooting ?" and deceased replied in the affirmative. He had driven the boy oat before. Each time deceased had been out in the car with witness he appeared to be cheerful, and on this occasion he did not notice anything peculiar about him

Walter Wright, of Papatoetoe, father of deceased, was re-called, and stated that the deceased was of a very bright nature generally, but when spoken to for having done anything wrong he was inclined to be somewhat sulky. He used to go about without a hat, and witness and his wife had come to the conclu sion that during the hot days he received a sunstroke Mr Wright concluded by apologising for not having appeared at the adjourned inquest on Monday, but explained that he was under a misapprehension.

The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased took his life whilst temporary insane, no blame being attachable to the parents of the deceased. He remarked that the evidence went to show that the father had provided every comfort possible for the boy, and the message written on the bag Was evidently done in a sheer fit of desperation and whilst deceased was not responsible for his actions.

Addressing the Kev. 0, Porter, of Papatoetoe, who had been a witness when the inques* was opened at Tuakau, the Coroner rebuked him for having, whilst at Tuakau, approached him (the Coroner) with a view to having evidence at the inquest suppressed from publication. Such action, the Coroner said, was illegal, and the dignity of the Court had to be upheld. Rev Porter (heatedly): I resent thrse remarks. I never asked to have the evidence suppressed. What I asked was whether it was essential for the father to view the body of his son when it was in such a state, and also whether it was necessary for the father to see the message written on the bag. The Coroner maintained that his version of the incident was correct, and that the rev. gentleman had stated that the suppression of evidence was not a matter of law, but of the heart. " That is all I have to say; incident closed," concluded the Coroner.