THE RAMARAMA TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 33, 7 October 1915, Page 3

THE RAMARAMA TRAGEDY.

the inquest. Pee Peess (Association, Auckland, October 6. Further evidence was taken as follows : William Francis Ginnevan, farmer, of Ramarama, told the coroner about the visit of Mrs Perry and her son early in the morning. As he left the house it was eight minutes past three. Ho had told Mrs Perry to send for Mr Pilkingtou. Witness called for Mr Cox, the Presbyterian missioaer, and they found the mother and some of the children waiting for them in a paddock at the eastern end of the house. "Witness found deceased lying on his right side on the side of the bed nearest to the window. His head was shot away above the temple. Witness remarked, “He’s! shot,” and Mr Pen. said, “Yes.” Witness, added: “But I don’t see any firearms.” Mrs Perry replied, “He was shot through the window.” When he entered the room Mrs Perry said, “There he is, dead; do the best you can.” In reply to hip inquiry as to whether there were any firearms in the house, Mrs Perry said, “There's only a gun in the dairy,and that has not been used s'ncc Thursday.” She either added that there were two cartridges left, or that the last two hud been fired on the Thursday. Witness did not think that injuries of so severe a nature could he caused by a gun fired through the window. The line of window was too low fei the shot to have entered deceased’s head' where it did. Witness related the circumstances of a will which be and Mr Pilkingtou witnessed when"deceased was poisoned in April last. On arriving at the house they found Perry lying on the floor suffering from effects of poisoning. He said he wanted his property left \to the four eldest boys. Mrs Perry asked him what Leonard (the youngest boy) had done to bo left out of the will, and Perry said, “All right, put him in.” On the suggestion of witness, Mrs Perry was given a life interest, with the proviso that after her death the five sons should divide the property equally. Perry was too ill to write, but be signed the will by a mark. On the occasion of the poisoning, Mrs Perry seemed to be concerned about her husband. She did not complain before provision was made for her in the will, but only when the boy, Leonard, was left out.

George Frederick Cox, Presbyterian inissioner, gave' evidence as to accompanying the previous witness to Perry’s house after the death of the father. He said Mrs Perry was greatly distressed.

' Dr. Brookfield described deceased’s injuries. He was of opinion tTiat the shot was fired close to deceased’s head. He did not think it could have been fired through the window with the same results. Describing deceased’s illness in April, witness said it was possible the cause of that illness was tetanus. Dr. Milson was of opinion that the -wound was not caused by a gun being fired from outside the window. It*was probably fired close: t° t,ie head. It was possible for the wound ?tb be self-inflicted, but-this was very unusual. _ ‘‘..o-i. • • | • Tke ; bnquest; was -adjourped. i AN>dT#ER MAN IN (THE CASE. - Auckland, Octohey 7. At the inquest to-day Harold Pilkiugton, neighbour of Perry, gave evidence that he witnessed a will made by deceased, in which no mention was made of his wife. On being informed that if the wife was not mentioned she might be able to dispute the will deceased agreed she would be given a life interest in the property. Gordon McDowell, laborer, gave evidence that he was on friendly terms with Mr and Mr s Perry. Tinder cross-examination witness admitted that Mrs Perry frequently came to his tent at Ramarama when he was alone, and that he-had cohabited with her. On September 21st he met her by appointment. He gave her ten shillings to go to town. She told him her husband had been nasty. further evidence. Pan Press Association. Auckland; October 7. Gordon McDowell continuing said, ■Mrs Perry told him that owing to what neighbours had said concerning tlie parentage of the child Leonard, her husband had taken a dislike to the hoy. Someone had told him that the child was like witness. He bad since been cruel to the child. W hen he told Mrs Perry that h e wa s gmng to buy a farm she said she might visit him now and again. She once said that she intended to leave her husband and go to town. He had never supplied her with cartridges. He had given her thirty shillings when she stated that her husband had burned her clothes.