KAIMATA TRAGEDY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 86, 15 August 1913, Page 5

KAIMATA TRAGEDY

VIRGIN STILL MISSING. NOTHING FURTHER TRANSPIRES [Per Press iAssociation.] Inglewood, August 15. Nothing further has transpired in connection with the Kaimata tragedy. Virgin is still missing, hut the police, assisted by local residents, are engaged dragging the Mangonui river in search of his body, as it is generally supposed he threw himself off the bridge. Ihe river is in flood after the recent heavy rain, and this greatly hampers operations. THE UNFORTUNATE MEN. Edward Julian, the victim, was a man who was popular in the district. He was about 45 years of age, and had a family of eight daughters and onn son, two of the girls being married. Ho was at one time a member of the Clifton County Council, having resided in the Urenui districts, ft v/as only alter they reached ingh'wood yesterday afternoon that Mrs Julian and one daughter learned of the shocking affair. Julian's belongings were removed from VVarea to Kaimata by the New Zealand ~-- Company, Frank

Smith, son of Mr Walter Smith, of Devon Street, being in charge of th< express. Smith left town on Tuesday for Warea to V-l -p the furniture, and then came on to town with the Fulian family.. They left New Plymouth at 8 o'clock on Wednesay. Smith was a married man and took his wife, who was a l\>iss Anderson, of Oakuni, and child out as far as Oakura when on his way to Warea, and Left them with her peoi>lc for a short holiday. The arrangement was that Smith was to bring Virgin's furniture 'lack to Julian's farm, an exchange 'laving been effected, and then, when finally returning to town again, he would call for his wife and child. Smith was 31 years of age. Frederick John Virgin, is described is an elderly man, over 50 years of age, and fairly well-to-do. Ho was

married with two children. An Englishman by birth, ho came to Taranaki over twenty years ago, taking over the management of a dairy factory at Tikorangi for Mr Breach. Subseniently he went farming at Opnnake ind then at Tarata, after which some four years ago, he sold out and took the farm at Kaimata. Ho was of a [iiict disposition, but disposed at times to be eccentric and so far as his neighbors were concerned he was essentially retiring'.' He'.married a Miss Muir, of Auckland, and his two senare ten and twelve years of age respectively. He has been associated >vith several local bodies, including the Taranaki Farmers' Union, and also occupied a seat oil the Moa Road Board Mrs Virgin and her sons were staying n Inglewood at the time of the tragedy and they and the Julians had lunch to-gether on thi) Wednesday/

WHAT THE POLICE ARE DOING

Senior-Sergeant Haddrel! and De-"ootive-Sergeant Boddam, with a contingent of police, went out to the scene of the tragedy early yesterday morning, and assisted in recovering the remains of the victims of the tragedy. They communicated with the district coroner, Mr W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M., at Hawera, with regard coroner can arrange to conduct the opened to-day, and adjourned until the coroner can arrange to conduct the enquiry.