KOITERANGI TRAGEDIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 October 1941, Page 4

KOITERANGI TRAGEDIES

PREPARATIONS FOR INQUESTS.

INSURANCE ON GRAHAM’S HOUSE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

GREYMOUTH, October 28.

There was a total effective insurance cover of £550 on the house, outbuildings and milking plant of the late Stanley Graham, Koiterangi, held with the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Coy., £3OO of which will be payable as only the house was destroyed. There are no new developments in the case. The sole injured survivor of the first afternoon’s shooting at the Graham homestead, Mr G. S. Ridley, continues to show further satisfactory improvement in the Westland Hospital, though his condition is actually still listed as serious.

A vast amount of preparatory work has been entailed in assembling all data in connection with the Koiterangi tragedies, but the bulk of this has now been accomplished by the police and, when narrowed down to essential detail for the purpose of the seven inquests, which will logically be taken together, evidence is not expected to occupy more than one full day’s hearing. Though no definite date has been fixed for the completion of- the adjourned inquests, which will be held in Hokitika, it is thought likely that they will be held early in Noevmber, possibly in a little over a week’s time. Had there been need for a murder trial, the police would have presented as exhibits scores of links in the chain of events connected with the case, the greatest care having been exercised by investigators in safeguarding and listing material evidence, such as portions of discharged bullets found after the post-mortem examinations in the bodies, also rifles, revolvers and many other articles with a bearing on the case. Now the bulk of these probable exhibits will not be required, even at the inquest proceedings.