WHANGAREI TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 35, 11 October 1915, Page 4

WHANGAREI TRAGEDY.

THE DEED OF A MADMAN. Fkh Prkbh Asbooiation. , Whangarei, October 9. * An inquest on the victims of the Mapuna Hotel fire was opened this morning before the Coroner- alone, Medical evidence showed that Oxley, senior, died of suffocation. The boy had four bullet wounds in the head,. " hut they were not the, cause of instantaneous death, as the boy died of coma ■ and suffocation, but he could not have recovered from the wounds. A revolver was found containing four exploded cartridges. Kvidence given by female servants ;Ull | [i ie r o„k showed that Oxley (the proprietor), was worried over money matters, and previous to the fire had called a girl from her bedroom to-say gooiUbvo. but no special importance was attached to this as ho had done so before. When' he was advised to leave the collection of accounts for a ,| av he replied that it would be too •| ;l ,' ( . The evidence indicated that Oxicy \s mind was unhinged, though he was not noticeably erratic. The Coroner returned a verdict to the clfect that Oxley had murdered his son bv tiring four shots into bis head will, V revolver, and had afterwards - set the house on lire, in which he and , the Native Peihapa had perished by suffocation.