THE WHANGAREI TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1915, Page 8

THE WHANGAREI TRAGEDY.

A MADMAN'S DEED, By Cable—Pleas Association—-Copyright. Whangarei, Oct. 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, but 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. Evidence given by female servants and the cook showed that Oxley (the proprietor), was worried over money matters, and previous to the fire had called a girl from her bedroom to say goodbye, but 110 special importance was attached to this as he had done so before. When he was advised to leave the collection of accounts for a day he replied tiiat it would be too late. The evidence indicated that Oxley's mind was unhinged, though he was not noticeably erratic. The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect that Oxley had murdered his son by firing four shots into his head with a revolver, and had afterwards set the house on fire, in which he and the Native Peihapa had perished by suffocation.