THE KARAKA FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1915, 26 October 1906, Page 3

THE KARAKA FATALITY.

The Coroner, Me BartoD, 8.M., yesterday journeyed to Karaka-for tho' purpose of holding an inquiry into tho death of Michael Hickey, whose body was found fioatiog ia the river, near tbo Cbff road, iasi Tuesday morning, Tho inquiry was held in a private room of the Rangatira Hotol,

Too following jury v?r.ro empanelled Messrs MoOttoJio (foreman), A. E. Gibson, W. H-'isloifc, T. F. McCarthy, H. F. North, an! T, J. Crimmm Constable Doyle couduetod iho inquiry. After the jury viewed the body, Feeder.ok .R chard Evinsoo, storekeeper, said ho know deceased, and last saw him a'.ivo oa Monday, 22ud last., at about 8 30 pm Dccocs hi was oa horseback, and the horse rihied at u fight in front of Mr Lewis’ shop at Ts Karak.s btul threw him. Deooased C itao cii on bii back, but retained the r.ms, and, before witness roaohe-i him, h,d .remounted the horao himself. Tho saddle- and reins were not damaged in any way. Deceased was not sober. Witness 'accompanied tho cl;eafl?od oast the street lights on the way to his home, deceased having to pass the Karaka cliff. Decoascd thou told witness he could get along all right. Deceased did not seem to have been hurt by the fall. Witness did not see deceased again alive.

By the Foreman: There were no visible bruises on Hickey’s head when witness parted with him. F A. Finlayson, carpenter, stated he had known deceased for a number of years. Witness was working near the Karaka cliff, and on the 23rd instant he found the body floating in tho water. ITo recognised the body to lie that of Michael Hickey. Witness procured assistance, and drew the 'body out of tho water. He did not notice a mark on tho forehead like a gravel rash. By a Juryman: Near where ho found the body marks were noticeable on tho bank of tho river- Tho body was anchored to a snag about a chain and a half from tho railway tunnel —half a chain lower down than the marks he noticed At this spot a body falling over the edge qf the road would gq into tho river, as the

grade is lin 1. The place, in the opinion of witness, was very dangerous. William Porter, lubotor, givo ovidonoo to finding a drab hat about Isft boloiv the tunnel air drive. On going down to tho h(U witness found n Wfttoh anil obuio uour the mouth of tho nir tunnel, also a box of matohoe, juat ineido tbo nir drivo. Parther on wifnoas found about nine shillings in silvor. In oaae of anyone falling over at this epot on tho road the artiolcs dropped would probably roll into tbo an*

Miobael 15. Hickey, fanner, rending at To Kurakn. said tho drenaed win Inu uncle, and had lived with him for about tivo years, D-’oeaeud had taken some horses to tho Ormond sale. On tho fol lowing day witness found dooensod s homo out-ido his gate. The aiddlowas still on, and tho bi'idlo, hut the latter was broken. Tbo near sino stirrup was thrown noroß3 the oaddlo. Witnoss oamo to tho oonolusion that dccasod bad boon thrown from lua horse and dvnggod. Witness was confirmed in this opinion after seeing tho marks ou tho body. Tbo waiou and chain found v.’oro tho proporty of iL-

icasod. This concluded Iho nvidenco. After a

fow mmut:'3’consideration, the jury gave the following finding: ‘Tbs dtceased Miobael Hickoy mot liis death by a full from a horse, his body being found in the rivor at Clifi cutting.” A rider was added calling tho aitoniion of Conk County Council to tho dangerous atuto oi tbo road whoto rifooased was found, and reoommouding that it bo fuuood.

The funorai of the deceased took plaoo shortly after tbo (inquiry, uad was attended by roltitiveu end a l.iiga number of frionds. Tbo body was interred iu tbo Ormond oemolory.