John Corrigan

People Buried Here

Epitaph

Description

DOUBLE SHOOTING Father and Mother Dead

SON CHARGED WITH MURDER

In the early hours of yesterday morning a double tragedy was enacted in a lonely farmhouse near Mangamahoe and about eight miles from Eketahuna when John Corrigan, aged 64 and his wife Ellen Corrigan aged 57, were shot while asleep in bed.

A son, John Corrigan, 23 years of age, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his father and mother.

The tragedy occurred at about 2 a.m. when Corrigan and his wife were asleep in bed. The father was wounded above the right eye and death must have been instantaneous, but the indications point to the mother, who was wounded in the right side, having sat up in bed to see what had happened before she was hit. After the tragedy the son John called a sister and told one of his brothers that he had shot his father and mother. He made no attempt to leave the house. A brother, Lewis, rushed to the nearest neighbour, John Hanson Berney, about a mile away, where a telephone call was put through to the Eketahuna police and Constable A. Ede and Doctor E. M. Simmers proceeded to the scene. Upon arrival, Corrigan and his wife were found dead, the bodies being later removed to Masterton.

It is reported that after making the statement to his brother that he had shot his father and mother, John Corrigan refused to speak. Both barrels of a double-barrelled shotgun, which was taken possession of by the police, were discharged, apparently at close range. The son retired to bed the previous evening in the usual way and apparently was on good terms with his parents, of whom he was very fond.

The house, which stands some distance back from the road, is three miles up the Mangamahoe Central Road from the main Eketahuna-Masterton via Mauriceville highway. It contains six or seven rooms, including four bedrooms. Besides the father and mother and the accused there were two boys and two girls at home, Lewis Joseph aged 20, Patrick Francis 13, Agnes 16 and Bernadine 9. The victims had lived in the Eketahuna district off and on for about forty years and were highly respected residents. They had been on the present farm for the last eight years. Mr Corrigan was engaged in sheep farming.

Detective-Sergeant Quirk and Detective Russell of Palmerston North, have charge of the case.

FURTHER DETAILS

Details gathered by a 'Daily Times' representative this morning shed further light on yesterday's sudden tragedy. It appears that the son John, who is charged with the murder of his parents, has been acting in a peculiar manner for some time past; although in conversation he appeared to be quite normal. Two years ago he lifted a motor car containing two passengers and at the time must have hurt himself internally as soon after the incident he was noticed to be acting in a queer manner. He consistently refused to be examined by a doctor.

On the morning of the tragedy a younger brother, Lewis, was awakened by the sound of the shots and when on his way to investigate, he was met by his brother John who remarked, "Don't be alarmed; your father and mother are both dead."

On Sunday evening Mrs Corrigan and all the members of the family, with the exception of Mr Corrigan and the son John, visited the home of relatives in the district. They returned home by car shortly after midnight. The tragedy occurred very soon after the family had retired to bed.

John Corrigan, junr., visited Wellington recently and later proceeded to Pahiatua, staying at the Commercial Hotel there. Last Thursday he purchased a gun in Pahiatua. On returning to his home for the week-end he used the gun to shoot some rabbits.

INQUEST OPENED

An inquest on the victims was opened this morning in the Magistrate's Court before Mr E. G. Eton, the District Coroner. After formal evidence of identification the inquest was adjourned sine die on the application of Detective Russell who appeared for the police.

Accused appeared before Messrs Simpson and Greathead, J.P's., at Eketahuna this morning on a charge of murder and was remanded in custody to appear at Wellington on Saturday, 5th April.

NOTES

* In Dec 1930 the son, John Dillon Corrigan, was examined by Dr Dawson in Pahiatua who advised his parents that he be sent to a mental hospital. He formed the conclusion that he might be dangerous or commit suicide. He told his parents to out away razors and firearms but his mother would not hear of him being sent away.

* He was committed to trial at Palmerston North Supreme Court

* After 9 minutes retirement the jury found John so insane that he could not plead.

* He was detained at Porirua Mental Hospital from which he escaped from in 1936, in Seacliff, Dunedin from where he escaped in 1943 and Oakley Asylum, Point Chevalier, Auckland from where he escaped in 1965.

* John Dillon Corrigan died in 1987 aged 78