HUNTED OUT & DIED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1882, 16 October 1913, Page 8

HUNTED OUT & DIED.

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR,

OLD MAN DRUMMED OUT BY - RESIDENTS.

THE BODY FOUW6. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Clsborno, October 15. 'An extraordinary affair was reported from Teararoa. On Sunday, October s, Harry - Florey, a cook by occupation, ,was found drowned, and in view of tho report of Constable Duddy, who has charge of the district, the Coroner (Mr. IVV. A. Barton, S.M.) has given instructions for the fullest, inquiries to be inade.

Constable Duddy's report to tho Coroner contains tho following remarkable story: "Deceased had been living at .Teararoa since July 22, 1913, and it is alleged that ho allowed himself to got into a very dirty condition. He had partly arranged to' enter employment at Teararoa, and there was a likelihood of his doing so on or about October 20. During tho time that ho was boarding lie did'not pay anything towards his keep, and it was through his stating that he was going to work that ho was ikept there so long.'The report proceeds to state that, on the night of October 1 the man had vomited in tho bath at the placo at which lie was staying, and next morning he admitted that he had dono so. Ho was'subjected to a good deal of condemnation for his action, and subsequently apologised and said that he was a disgraced man. Some time after this lie had a conversation, with his prospective, employer, and admitted committing the> act of which ho was accused, .and was told that, undor the circumstances, lie could not be taken ' into employment. Deceased seemed depressed, and mado some remarks that .ie would leave matters to bo judged by the Highest Tribunal. Hoisted on Horseback. "It appears that some sort of a meeting was held during tho morning of October 2," the' constable's' report 'continues, and it was decided to hunt 'ideceasgd out of the township. It seemß Ijto have been the common talk of the 'town. At 2.30 in the afternoon some piino or ten persons met, and among 'these - wero four men, these being the [Headers of what subsequently transpired. 1A horse was brought, its tail was beHng decorated with a white «rag. There was no saddle. j> took tho horse to where deteased was standing talking to la Maori. Tho other persons wero following close behind, and, on reaching (the placo where deceased was standing, [bo was taken hold of by , and Was lifted on to the horse. • Tho 'horse .Was then led on again by — towards tho river, and in tho direction "of Port Awanui. The deceased was being held on tho horse by , and i— : —, while a number of persons followed some littlo distanco behind. Tried to Cet Away. After going about 200 yards deceased managed to get off' the horse, and tried to get away, when lie was again ,taken Ihold of bv , , and — , who trie 3to put him on the torse again. At this time deceased, ( Tvho was trying; to defend: himself, struck in the face, and cut tho Hatter's lip. —- — was seen to strike deceased 1 in return in the face (which probably caused the black eye which, with a scratch on the forehead, were the marks on the when discovered). The deceased was then led down to , the river by the men and • —, whero ho appears to have willingly got on his horse, and rode ove/ tho nver alone, and continued up the river-bed in the direction of Port Awanui. The crowd then returned to the townsliipS, The time would bo about 3 p.m. , ' "Nothing further was seen of deceased.until about o p.m., when ho was then seen by a Maori girl named Moetu near the Taurangokoau pa, somo two miles from Teararoa. The girl states Ithat the deceased was then leading his ■fcorse, and was making in the direction of Teararoa. On the following Jnorning (Fridav. October 3), the horse kvas found at'the township with' the Bridle on, and it was thought that deceased tad turned into one of the .'Maori pas, and that tho horse had got Nothing further Avas seen 'of (deceased until his body was found op H/lo beach on October 5."