LAST SCENE OF ALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 100, 19 July 1927, Page 16

LAST SCENE OF ALL

THE KIDDELL TRAGEDY INQUEST CONCLUDED “T FIND that the deceased Louisa Jane Kiddell, Lorna Kidded and Collen Whitby Kidded died at 5 West Street, Mount Albert, on June 23, the cause of their deaths being gunshot wounds inflicted by Ernest Whitby Kidded. “There is some evidence to show that Louisa Jane Kiddell acquiesced in the deed I am satisfied that Ernest Whitby Kiddell died a little later of suicide by shooting." This was the verdict of the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, in concluding the inquest on the victims of the Mount Albert tragedy yesterday afternoon. Eric Thomas Wilson, a salesman employed by the Colonial Ammunition Co., gave evidence of Mr. Kiddell senior’s purchase of the rifle with which he committed the murders. When asked by witness if he wished to buy a cleaning-rod Kidded remarked that he would not be needing one. Witness thought this strange, as it was customary for most purchasers of arms to buy the cleaning rod also. Senior-Detective Hammond, who examined the victims after the discovery of the tragedy, said that the bodies of the son and the mother appeared as though they were quite resigned to their death, but the body of the daughter suggested she had been disturbed at the time of the murder. ESTATES INVOLVED “Can you give any idea of the order of the deaths?" asked Mr. P. J. Ryan, who represented the Public Trustee. ‘The fact is important in view of the administration of the estates. The father’s estate is valued at £1,700 and the son’s farm at Mangaweka is worth £1,000." “The daughter was probably killed first and the mother and son next, then the father," said Mr. Hammond. Replying to the coroner, the senior detective said that it would be quite impossible to definitely name the order in which the deceased died. “I don’t think the was in the death pact at all," said Mr. Hammond. Several letters which had been written by Kiddell, senr., were produced. On the back of the envelope of one letter was written in a different handwriting the words “With my con sent, Lou.” Mr. Hunt said he did not think any good would be done by the publishing of the letters and suggested that they should be forwarded to rlieir intended destinations H orse, Not Motor-cycle.— The request by the Onehunga Borough Council for a motor-cycle for police transport in emergency cases is not likely to be acceded to. Last evening the Borough Council granted the police a lease of one stall in the council’s stables in Wharf Road at 7s 6d per week; and rumour has it that instead of motorcycles, residents of the township will have to rest contented with a mounted policeman.