DROWNED IN DITCH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 59, 6 September 1939, Page 4

DROWNED IN DITCH

J ADJOURNED INQUEST ENDEO* /', ; DEATH OF GEORGE HOBSON A The adjourned inquest into ihd death of George Hobson, aged about 45, of Waihi, was continued at the Whakatane Courthouse before Mr G. A. Brabant, J.P., district coroner, yesterday. < Hobson's body was discovered drain at Piripai a fortnight after ha had attended a drinking party in the vicinity and Ills death was the subject of exhaustive police inquiries by the Whakatane staff. It was established beyond doubt that no element of foul x play had entered into the death, an<l the coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the meet ical evidence which showed that deceased met his death through drown-* ing * > The evidence of Fawcett James \ Forbes, labourer, of Piripai, showed that deceased visited him 22, the trip down to ing ]said in return -for visits by Forbes to Hobson at Waihi. They were drinking together at hotels during the afternoon and they bought beer, intending to hold a party in the evening. After discussion witft' other men they decided to visit the house of Edward Stewart, Piripai. Deceased became very drunk n and ' Forbes last saw him at the party at about 10 p.m., when witness was put to bed. Witness did not miss Ms fiiend until afteii midnight when he awoke from a drunken sleep and in* quired for Hobson's whereabouts. No one had seen him leave. FELL INTO DRAIN. / Witness continued that after he left Stewart's house he got lost and got into the river a little past Stew* art's place. He was up to his waisft in water and had a- job to get out because the bank was high. Aftei? he got out he found his way to the flaxmill. With Andy Brown he went to look for deceased on Monday morning and witness suggested that they should look in the water about the place he fell in, as he thought deceased might have done the same thing. "SILLY IDEA." He remembered asking Jane Skin* ner to clean the mud off his clothes on Monday. He did not know Hobson was dead, but he had disappeared in a strange way and he got a silly idea into his head that he might be sus* pected by the police. When he got to the flaxmill after the party he woke up Brown - and asked him if he had seen deceased and Brown said he had not. Edward McDonnell farm* ei, Piripai, said that five men and a woman came to his house on the night in question, bringing two five gallon kegs of beer. He had not ar» ranged with them to come for a party The old man George Hobson was ; already drunk when he arrived, but witness did not know if he had any more liquor oi not. He seemed te be sitting down smoking his pipe most of the time. He did not s*va Hobson-leave the house and the test' he could remember of him was that? at about 11.30 p.m. he was sitting on the couch. The party broke up after 1 p.m. and he did not hear any- | onp inquiring for Hobson when they left. INQUIRIES ON MONDAY. Forbes and Brown called to see hint on Monday and asked if he hod seen Hobson. The possibility that, he was in . the . drain was not discussed.. He dU! not see the body in the drain until Sunday, August 5 when -the police asked him for a rope. There were no rows or fights at the party and everyone seemed happy and friendly. Hobson seemed quifctt cheerful.. Evidence concerning the party wa®also given by Andrew Brown, flax-t mill employee, and Jane Skinner, cook. They said that deceased was not seen to leave the party. They last saw him about 11.30 p.m. The» party was quite orderly except that Forbes and Hobson knocked over a glass of beer and broke it and Jane Skinner told them to behave them* selves. There was a slight argument between two of the women at one stage, but the men did not join in„ Constable F. M. Fuller said there were no marks of violence on the body, and its appearance was consistent with death by drowning-. Medical evidence was given by D* F. J. Applebs r . The hearing will be concluded today. , , .