PECK OBITUARIES & INQUESTS

OBITUARIES
Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 21 May 1902 & 24 May 1902
"A beautiful monument has been erected … by Mr Arthur PRICE [Council Clerk] over the remains of Mrs A.E. PECK wife of Mr R.E. PECK .
It is a handsome marble monument of broken column design, with a raised ornamental cross on front of the column."

Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Friday 6 August 1920
"The whole community will sympathise with Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Peck, of “Uplands”, Kurrajong Heights, in the very sad bereavement that has befallen them, by the death of their daughter, Miss DORIS PECK, who passed away in Windsor Hospital on Wednesday week, after an operation for appendicitis.
She was 22 years of age, and was engaged to be married shortly.
The late Miss PECK was a girl of charming personality, and was beloved by all who knew her.
Her death in the prime of life is a sad blow to the parents and their family, and we join in the great wave of sympathy that goes out to them.
It cast a gloom over the whole district as Mr. and Mrs. Peck are widely known and respected everywhere they are known.’

Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Friday 9 July 1926
At the age of 87 years, Mrs MARY PECK, relict of the late HENRY PECK, died at her late home, “Mountain View", Kurrajong Heights, on Sunday last.
Deceased conducted a boarding house for many years at “Mountain View,” and the guests who stayed with her loved her, and were always eager to get back to her hospitable home.
She was before her marriage a Miss HURST, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. SAMUEL HURST, was born at Kurrajong and resided there all her life.
Her husband died some years ago.
They had a family of 13 children, all of whom attended their mother’s funeral.
The family are: Mary A., Henry Edward, Arthur, George W., Robert J., Richard E., Emily J., Amy M., Alice M., Clara M., Hannah E., Evelyn A. and Leslie C.
The late Mrs Peck was one of the sturdy pioneers of the Kurrajong, and saw remarkable changes there in her life-time.
She was a dear old lady, beloved by her children and all who knew her.
The remains were laid to rest in the Presbyterian cemetery, Kurrajong Heights, on Monday afternoon.
Rev. W.H. Milne conducted the service and Mr. Price carried out the funeral arrangements.

 INQUESTS
Coroner's inquest conducted 22 April (or March?) 1888 by J B JOHNSTON at Wheeney Creek, District of Windsor, found that GEORGE BOATWRIGHT, aged 72, died of effects of injuries accidentally received. The deceased was born in Suffolk, England. [Source: Archives Authority NSW AO Reel No 2525; Registers of Coroners Inquests and Magistrates Inquiries 1887-1894]

Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Friday 24 February 1928
‘DETERMINED SUICIDE – KURRAJONG DISTRICT – TOP OF HEAD BLOWN OFF.
ALWIN PECK (39), an orchardist of Kurrajong Heights, was found dead in a shed near his home shortly after 6 o’clock on Monday afternoon, with the top of his head blown off. His brother made the ghastly discovery, and found with the body a service rifle, which told its own grim story.
Early in the afternoon, Peck arrived home in his car, which, it is believed, he had completed arrangements that day to sell. He seemed to be in his usual state of mind, and after garaging the car in a shed near the house, set out to pack some fruit.
Returning home about 5.30 pm, and without a word of warning to anyone, he procured a service rifle from the house and was seen by his wife and a man named FRANK TELLINGS (sic) to enter the car shed. A few minutes later the report of a rifle reverberated through the air.
Becoming alarmed, Mrs. PECK rushed off from the assistance of neighbours (sic) and TELLINGS, fearing that a tragedy had occurred, hurried away to inform Mr. JACK PECK.
The latter was soon on the scene, and on entering the garage he was horrified to see his brother seated in the front seat of the car, with the service rifle between his knees, and the top of his head blown completely away. The barrel of the gun was pointing towards the deceased’s head, and contained a discharged cartridge. Death had apparently been instantaneous.
The force of the explosion can be imagined as four holes were discharged in the hood of the car with four corresponding holes in the iron roof of the shed, through which the fatal bullet and portions of the skull had been blown.
The police were notified, and Constable Allen, of North Richmond, proceeded to the scene.
A profound sensation was caused and great sorrow felt when news of the tragedy became known. The deceased was a son of Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Peck, of “Uplands” Kurrajong Heights, and great sympathy is expressed for the parents, wife and young child in the tragic happening. Everyone who knew the deceased is charitable enough to believe that his mind must have been deranged when he did the terrible deed.
The District Coroner (Mr. H. S. Johnston, J.P.) viewed the body on the day and the inquest will be held at the Richmond Court House at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.’

Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Friday 2 March 1928
NEWSPAPER REPORT ON CORONER’S INQUEST – ALWIN PECK
‘TOP OF HEAD BLOWN OFF. ORCHARDIST’S SUICIDE. KURRAJONG HEIGHTS TRAGEDY.
AN INQUIRY into the circumstances surrounding the death of ALWIN PECK(39), an orchardist of Kurrajong Heights, who was found in the driver’s seat of his car in a shed at his home on February 20 with the top of his head blown off, was conducted by the District Coroner (Mr H.S. JOHNSTON, J.P.) at the Richmond Court House on Wednesday.
Constable ALLEN, of North Richmond, told the Coroner that at about 6.20 p.m. on the 20th ultimo, in consequence of a telephone message, he proceeded to Kurrajong Heights arriving there an hour later. He went to a shed on the deceased’s property, and seated in the front seat of a car that was garaged there he saw the body of a many whom he recognised as Alwin Peck. The body was in a sitting position in the driver’s seat. Between the deceased’s legs, with the butt resting on the floor of the car, was a service rifle which he produced. The deceased’s right hand was clasped around the rifle about a foot from the muzzle, and the left hand was extending down between his legs and towards the trigger. The top of the deceased’s head was blown off, and there were three holes in the hood of the car with three corresponding holes in the roof of the shed which could have been caused by a bullet. Witness examined the rifle and found in the breach a discharged shell, and in the magazine, seven unused cartridges.
FRANK CARL PECK, orchardist of Kurrajong Heights, said he had never known or heard of his brother making a threat to take his own life. Since the tragedy, witness ascertained the deceased’s financial position and found his banking account was in credit. There was a mortgage of $1,000 on the deceased’s property and approximately $300 outstanding accounts. Witness considered, however, that his brother should not have had any financial worries, as the value of his property was far in excess of his liabilities. He last saw the deceased alive on the morning of the tragedy. He was then in his normal state of health, and as he drove past in his car, he gave witness his usual cheery smile. Deceased had taken part in some heavy fighting at the Great War. He was on active service for three years and was wounded.
Dr. W.M. HELSHAM stated that he examined the body shortly after 6 p.m. on the day of the tragedy and found the top of the skull blown away and the upper surface of the brain exposed. Death had taken place about an hour previously, and could have been caused by a bullet from the rifle produced.
HAROLD DOUGLASS, orchardist, of Kurrajong Heights, said he and Darcy Shepherd were at George’s packing shed at Kurrajong Heights when the deceased arrived there about 3.45 p.m. on the 20th ultimo. Witness assisted the deceased to pack a case of fruit, after which they sat down chatting until 5.45 p.m., when deceased left for his home. He was then in good spirits, and during the conversation they had gave no indication that he might take his own life.
FRANK TELLING, carrier, of Kurrajong Heights, said he saw the deceased arrive home late on the afternoon of February 20. He drove up in a motor lorry and saluted witness as he passed. Later witness saw the deceased leave his home and go towards the shed on his property carrying a service rifle, and a few minutes after the report of a shot reverberated through the air. Telling immediately got into communication with the deceased’s brother, Mr JACK PECK, and they discovered the body in a car in the shed.
ALICE PECK, wife of the deceased, was visibly affected when she entered the Court. Soon after being sworn she collapsed and had to be removed. The Coroner thereupon adjourned the court.
In the afternoon the deceased’s wife made the following statement:- On February 20 last my husband had been to Richmond doing business in connection with the sale of his car. He returned home about 3 p.m. and was in good spirits. After lunch he left to go to George’s packing shed, and returned home about 6 p.m. His manner then appeared to be strange, and he went straight into a room where a rifle was kept. I said to him, “What are you going to do with that rifle?” He replied, “Nothing.” I said, “Well, put it back.” And he did so. I was in the kitchen when I went to put the baby to sleep, and when I returned I found he had gone. I went to the room where the rifle was kept but it was also missing. I then got the baby, and walking towards a shed on the property, I heard the report of a rifle. When I got to the gate, Mr TELLING took me over to the deceased’s father’s residence. On two occasions previously I have taken a gun away from my husband when he threatened to take his own life.
The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide.’

Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 18 February 1938
"An old and respected resident of Kurrajong, Mr RICHARD ERNEST PECK, died at his residence, Roseville, Kurrajong on Wednesday, February 9, in his 67th year.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs ELIZABETHEunice Peck, and four sons and one daughter, viz., Stephen (Wyong), Wilfred (Kelso), Laurence (Mullumbimby), Cecil, and Jenny, of Kurrajong."