On this day ……… 29th of May 1942
After hearing 21 witnesses, Mr E. J. Haynes, deputy coroner, found that Arthur Roy Willis, 44, military driver, formerly of Casterton, had been murdered by some person unknown on May 29. Willis’s body was found on the side of the Ocean Grove road, Wallington, with 4 bullet wounds, and indications were that some of the bullets had been fired while he was lying on the ground. Dr. C. H. Mollison said that death was due to haemorrhage from a wound in the abdomen. The bullet had entered from the back. Evidence was given that Miss Norma G. Pretlove, on holidays from Casterton, met Willis by accident in Geelong on May 28, and as a result he was introduced to Mrs Linda E. Black and Mrs Mary D. Skepper, both of Orchard st. In conversation with the women Willis had made it clear that he was to be at the tram terminus at 2am next morning to obtain a ride to the camp. He mentioned the name Green to Mrs Skepper, but she could not say whether it referred to an old soldier mate or to the person who was to pick him up. Willis spent portion of the evening at Mrs Black’s house, then went out with Miss Pretlove, returned by taxi to Mrs Black’s, and arranged to be picked up by a taxi at 1am to be taken to East Geelong tram terminus. Mrs Vera E. Ward, Point Lonsdale, said that a soldier named Green parked his car at her place. On May 29 Green, when putting his car away, mentioned that he had told Willis he would pick him up, but he had not seen anything of him, and came on.
“TOO CROOK TO EAT”
Garnet Kinsman, military driver, said he saw Green in bed on the morning, and Green had stated that he got back to camp between 5 and 6 am and was “too crook” to have breakfast. Green was still drunk. He said he had not seen Willis.
Witness was questioned as to differences, between his evidence and statements made to the police, and at the conclusion Mr Haynes said he regarded witness’s evidence as unsatisfactory. Michael Curran Green, military driver, said that on May 28 he drove his car to Melbourne. Willis had told him he had leave and was not sure what time he would be returning to camp. He had told Willis he would not be back before 2am or later than 6am, and that if Willis was on the main road he would be welcome to a lift. There was no definite arrangement and he did not mention the tram terminus as a meeting place. He did not leave Melbourne till late, and at Geelong took a wrong turn and did not pass the tram terminus. He knew the police were seeking the driver of a truck who was supposed to have arranged to meet Willis, but he had not volunteered information. Mr A. J. B. Aird appeared to assist the coroner; Mr P. D. F. O’Keefe for Mesdames Black, and Skepper, and Miss Pretlove. An inquiry into the death of Pte John Joseph Hulston, 19, who was shot while on sentry duty on September 1, was formally opened and adjourned until tomorrow.