INQUEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2057, 18 April 1907, Page 2

INQUEST.

At the Courthouse yesterday morning, the Coroner (Mr. W. A. Barton. S.M.), conducted an inquest into the circumstances concerning the death of Elizabeth Wood, who was found drowned in the Taruheru river on Tuesday. The following jurors were einpenelled: Messrs. R. Mitchell (foreman), J. R. Nicholls, G. G. Shierlaw, T. Dalrymple, T. Tosland, and W. R. Clarkson.

Detective Maddern represented the police, and called J. D. Harries, boot importer, who deposed that deceased was an aunt of hisi wife’s, aged 64, and had been residing-with witness for two years She suffered from asthma all her life, and only returned from the Hospital on Saturday, the 6th; she was there for five weeks. Immediately upon her return she appeared to have improved in health, but soon got bad again. She made made the statement that she wanted to commit suicide. On Sunday last, she walked about the house all day, being very restless. Witness last saw her alive on Monday morning; she appeared to be in the same state, and was missed at six o’clock that evening. A search was made, but without result, and her disappearance, was reported to the police. AVitness suspected that she was in the river, and the following morning he found her shawl on the bank. AVitness, with the police, dragged the river all day. Nothing occurred to cause her any uneasiness and no quarrel took place Charles Frederick Bennie, captain of the Tuna, stated tlut l:<was in charge of the oil launch T< A. te on Tuesday. Witness left Nelson Bros.’ works at 10.45, and saw Constable Irwin in a boat searching, and was * told that a woman was missing. Thereupon ho instructed his men to keep a look out and witness found the body about 20 yards above the Maiigapapa bridge, about a

quarter past three. The body was fully dressed, and he took it to the morgue.

Constable O’Hara stated that he took the body of deceased from Captain Bennie’s launch to the morgue, and examined it, but found no marks of violence on it.

His AVorship said that it looked like suicide, but as deceased was in very poor health, she could easily have fallen into the river.

The jury returned a verdict of found drowned, in the Taruheru river, there being no evidence to show by what means.

To Mr. Coleman (who represented ’ Messrs. Holder and Lockwood): Hoped, if his health stood by him, to bo able to clear himself in a year. His present earnings were £1 per week, but out of certain commissions be hoped to bo able to earn .02 or £3 a week extra. Fully a third of the amount shown in the statement of debts was owing to friends. Did not understand the procedure under judgment summonses and would probably have appliod for an extension under Holder and Lockwood’s summons if he bad known it would bo secured. There were other - people besido Holder and Lockwood who were pressing for sottloniont. Mr. Coleman explained that Holder and Lockwood had taken no extreme measures to press bankrupt. They had a debt 18 months old and no' effort had been made to pay the account. Had the firm been approached tliev would have given every consideration to an application for extension of time to pay under the judgment summons. Bankrupt (in reply to the Assignee) said that he was a clerk lie had done all kinds of work. He had no ill-feeling against Holder and Lockwood, and supposed their judgment summons was merely in the course of business.