DEATH BY DROWNING.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume I, Issue 124, 6 November 1885, Page 3

DEATH BY DROWNING.

The inquest on the death of Mrs G. Boggis was held at Doctor,s Creek last Wednesday afternoon before W. Gibbs Esq, Coroner, the following gentlemen being empanelled as jurymen, Messrs R. G. Peacock (Foreman), G.Braddock, S. Lash. H. Avery, W. Diamond, W. Bray and F. Schwartzfeger.

Mr G. Boggis, husband of the deceased lady deposed that on the morning of Tuesday the 3rd inst Mr R. Riley Tame to las house about half-past eleven for the purpose of mustering sheep. After having a little lunch he and Mr Riley left liis house leaving Mrs Boggia preparing dinner. He returned home alone at 1 o’clock and not seeing his wife about tlie house, waited a few minutes expecting her, but on her not coming in went outside and called her by name. Received no response and so commenced searching for her about the outside premises. Not finding any traces of his wife he then searched the paddock and along the ■vatei -race thinking she might have fallen down and hurt herself and required assistance. Repeatedly called her by name hut received no answer. As a last resource he went down the track leading to the river where water is drawn in the summer time. Perceived foot-prints on the sandy beach leading down to the deep water-hole and not seeing any return tracks at once came to the conclusion that his wife had accidentally fallen in, she at times being subject to slight giddiness, followed the river down about 12 to hi chains where he saw something white in the water 15 yds from the river bank.JWent into the water and found his wife lying against a large boulder. Brought lier out on to the land and immediately tried to restore animation but without success. Then went for assistance and had the corpse carried home. The time w hicli elapsed between arriving home tor dinner and finding the corpse was one hour and a half. Could only account tor his wife’s absence by supposing that as was her custom, she had strolled down to the river’s edge to pass away the time until his return.

By t lie foreman: Did not perceive any al

leration whatever in his wife's-spirits, she was as usual cheerful and pleasant.

By Mr Diamond: said his wife did not go to the river to drown a kitten as the kitten was alive at home.

Mr Rally Riley corroborated the first part of Mr Boggis’ evidence and stated that Mrs Boggis appeared in her usual cheerful mood previous to their departure.

The jurymen inspected the corpse and visited the track leading down to the river and at once decided on a verdict c>t “Found drowned.” The deceased’s death was unanimously considered to be purely accidental, but no positive proof to that effect beiuggbrought forward the verdict had to be as stated and required bv the law.