DROWNING ACCIDENT

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1415, 28 March 1905, Page 2

DROWNING ACCIDENT

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was hold at the Kaitaratah* Hotel yesterday afternoon on the body of William Summers, who was drowned in the Waipaoa river on Saturday night. Tho inquiry was held before Mr W. A. .|V Barton, Coroner, and the following jury: Messrs John Thomas King (foreman), Patrick Eyan, James Jackson, Thomas e * Fanning, Alfred William Harris, and Charles Mitchell. James Bruce Hollier, sworn, stated he

was employed at tho Kaitarotahi Hotel. h Ho had seen the body of deceased, viewed by the jury that day, and recognised it to be that of William Summers, an employee of Mr King, sawyer, Te Karaka. He saw l r deceased last Saturday, the firet time at 6 [ p.m. and the last time one hour later. Witness was in the kitchen when he first ' saw him. Deceased came in and asked ■ ' faw ** witness if ho had any books or papers for him. Deceased then .went into the l dining room with Max Jackson; but wit- i ness did not know how longT he remained ;; there. Ho came into tho kitchen again, \ and asked witness to lend him half-a-crown. > f' Witness did so. Deceased said he wanted \ to shout for Lyford before he wnat heme, \ and was not in the habit of sticking drinks | up. Witness was not aware that deceased S "had any liquor before he left the house. * j His brothor George attended the bar. Tho last time ho saw deceased, he (deceased) \ was perfectly sober, Witness had never seen him under the influence of liquor. • He had known deceased about six months. He saw the body at 6.20 on Sunday morning lying in the middle of the Waipaoa river. He had the body removed to the river bank and handed it over to Constable Doyle when he arrived. He found on the body of deceased a leather pouch containing cheque drawn upon Andrew Thiohy for .£9 7s 6d, payable to Thomas King, one £5 note, £1 note, a watch and chaio, pipe, penknife and tob- » acco pouch. Witness handed the property to Constable Doyle. Witness noticed a bruise on the right eye,and deceased’s face was also slightly bruised. He was awars that deceased was short sighted. George Prebbles, farm laborer,at present working for Alfred Wm. Harris, Kaitaratahi, stated he had seen the body, which was that, of William Summers. He saw deceased at the Kaitaratahi Hotel, at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The deceased was in the bar when witness came in. They both remained ten minutes, and left together. They had a drink before leaving, tho deceased* having whisky. When they left the hotel they went in the same direction, around by the station and over the railway bridge. Witness was in front in the order of crossing tho bridge. "When they got oh the bridge deceased passed a remark that now they were on the bridge, ana asked witness W?/ not to go too fast. A second or so later ho heard a shuffling sound on the bridge, and turning round to look he heard a splash. He called deceased’s name, bat there was no answor. He then called for help, and nobody coming he returned to the hotel for assistance. Several persons returned 'to the river with him. They stripped, and going into the .water made a good search, but nothing was found of deceased. The night was fairly dark, and they had difficulty in seeiog. He could not account for deceased falling off the bridge. He had only known deceased a week. Deceased wqb perfectly sober, and in good health. .

George Hollier and Frederick Lyford gave corroborative evidence. The former said deceased bad a 11 medium beer” with Lyford, but that lie did not take any away with him. Lyford said that when leaving the hotel deceased appeared to bo perfectly sober.' . .'’"V” 7 "• i.*-.'-Constable Doyle gave* formal evidence. - The jury returned a verdict,that deceased was accidentally drowned ; tjirougb falling from the Kaitaratahi railway bridge into the Waipaoa river.