PIHA FATALITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 8

PIHA FATALITY

Dead Man Insured For £40,000 INVESTIGATIONS MADE BY POLICE PROMINENT BARRISTER ENGAGED [ Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. Auckland police are investigating the circumstances of the death of Gordon Thomas McKay, aged 43, a hide and skin merchant, of 25 Selbourne Street, Burwood, Sydney, the victim of the fire in a shack at Piha early on the morni.ng of Sunday, February 12. Interest in the fatality has been heightened since it was learned last week that the dead man was insured for sums totalling about £40,000. The information was received privately from Australia, resulted in the engagement of two prominent Auckland barristers and in the despatch .to Piha of Detective-Sergeant F. Aplin and Constable F. Pollard. A routine inquiry had already been made as a preliminary to the opening of the inquest, but importance attached by the police to the information regarding insurances is indicated by the fact that the police party remained in Piha from Thursday morning until mid-day on Saturday. During this time they sifted the ashes and debris of the ruined shack in search for further evidence. The inspector in charge of the detective division at police headquarters personally visited the scene on Thursday. Three Companies. Il is learned that the insurances are held by two companies and there is a reinsurance with a third. All three are prominent companies doing business in Australia and New Zealand. The insurance, it is understood, is £30,00" with one company and £lO,OOO with another. The inquest was opened on Monday last week. James Arthur Talbot, companion of the dead man, who had come to Auckland from Sydney with him and accompanied him to Piha in a rental car for a holiday, gave evidence and stated that McKay had been engaged in the hide and skin business in Burwood. The inquest was adjourned sine die to give the police an opportunity of continuing their inquiries and consulting relatives as to the burial of remains. The funeral took place on Wednesday and was attended by only three people.