FOUND DEAD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11128, 11 February 1930, Page 5

FOUND DEAD

MANUTIiICEi END. INQUEST OPENED. When Mi'. . Peter Wilson Muir, a well-known Manutuke farmer, ia.iled to return to the house for breakfast yesterday morning, a search was made for him ana he was dis_ covered by two of his daughters lying face downward Jn it stream contaitr mg about Sins. of water. AssistHtice was .summoned and iwo neighbors maintained artificial respiration until the arrival ol a doctor who found life extinct. Mi*. Muir, whose home is situated oil the Waingake road, was a 'mar. i icd man, 43 years of age, with one son and three daughters, to all of u horn and to the widow the deepest sympathy of a wide circle of friends ..in lie extended. fne .funeral wid leave the late residence at 2 p.m. to-day for Makaraka cemetery. The inquest was opened at' tlie residence by the Coroner, Mr. P. il. Harper, S.M., yesterday. Jessie Grey. Muir, widow of deceased, gave evidence that- she fast saw him alive about 7 a.in. yesterday. Jde was thou in a paddock near the .house attending to some horses. : \\ hen he did not come in for breakfast, sho went out to look for him, but failed, to find him. Two of her daughters, then went over to Mr. Morris's, a neighbor, to see if lie was there. On their way back, they came upon Mr. Muir lying in a creek on the property. They immediately informed witness, ' who telephoned Mr. Atkins, and the body was subsequently removed from the creek. Her husband had always enjoyed good health, but he was of a nervous and excitable disposition, easily upset when things went wrong. He had no .financial worries, but had been worrying over domestic troubles, having ~ little siccp during the past week. lie went to bed about 11 o’clock on Sunday night, but did not sleep and arose at 6.30 a.m. yesterday. He did not then mention anything about his worries, nor give any indication that he would, take his life. Yesterday morning he appeared quite allright and attended to his duties as usual.

Alexander Atkins, farmer, of Manutuke, who was called in by Mrs. M.uiri, stated that he found the body lying faeo downwards in about Sin. of water. To roach the creek, Mr. Muir would have had to climb a wire fence running parallel with it. There was no sign of any struggle. On recovering the body, artificial respiration was attempted by witness and John Kane, this being continued until Dr. Bowie arrived, and found life extinct. Witness also corroborated several points in the evidence of the previous witness.

Corroborative evidence was given by John Kane, farmer, of Manutnke.

.Kathleen Muir, a daughter, who will be IS this month, gave evidence on the lines of that given by her mother.

The inquest was then adjourned pending receipt of medical evidence, the Coroner expressing sympath with the widow and family in their tragic bereavement.