INQUEST AT RANGIORA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2009, 2 August 1880, Page 3

INQUEST AT RANGIORA.

On Saturday an inquest was held before A. H. Cunningham, Esq., in the absence of Dr. Dudley, Coroner, at the Red Lion Hotel, Rangiora, touching tho death of a man whose body was found on the Mount Thomas run, and supposed to be that of John Gordon, missing sinoe July 4th. Mr J. Fulton was chosen foreman of the jury. After viewing the body, which, except the face, was in a fair state of preservation, the following evidence was taken :

Walter Nioholls, stockowner, Haylanda station, deposed—John Gordon was working for me. I saw him last three or four days before he left my station to go to Rangiora. He was then in good health, except that he suffered from sciatica.

By the Foreman—He had no chance, if he was addicted to intemperate habits. Aotive search had been made for deceased. Information was given to me on 30th that the body had been found. By Sergeant Barlow—Deceased worked for me eight weeks. He left the station on Saturday, July 3rd. He said he was going to Rangiora to purchase some clothing and things for himself. He was on good terms with all the hands on the station, and was liked by all tho men. I identify the body viewed as that of John Gordon, who was in my employ. I gave him £4 when he went away. There is £3 or £4 now due to him for wages.

William McOonville deposed—l live, at Loburn. I identify the body of deceased as the late John Gordon. Knew him by seeing him once or twice at Mr Nicholls' station. I saw him four weeks ago next Sunday a little above the Okukn bridge. I had a conversation with him about sundown. He asked me if I could show him the straightest way to Mr Nicholls'. He was on the road leading to Mount Thomas. I told him he would not find his way easily, and had better come back to our place and stay for the 5 night. He refused, saying he could find his way right enough. It was a Btormy night, with wind and rain from S.W. This was the* last I saw of him . He was about half drunk. He went straight across the flat after leaving me, taking a course for Mr Nicholls'. The road' was not fenced. The formed road leads from where I met him to Mr Brown's Mount Thomas station. The body, I learn, was found about two miles from where' I parted 'from him. ' Deceased seemed a little exhausted. The night was very dark afterwards. ' Deceased offered witness drink. Subsequently, as I was returning from Mr Brown's dip I saw him half a mile from where I met him. He was then a little to the rigbt of the course I had showed him. I did not speak to him, being some distance away. This was a quarter of an hour after I first saw him.

By the foreman —I identify deceased by hla general appearance. By a juror—Deceased was not incapahle. It would get quite dark before' he could possibly;reaoh the,station;. Deceased Baid if he could get to the hu( on Mr Nicholls' land, in which the ploughmen were, he would stay there. This tut was three or four miles from where wo first met.

By a juror—l told a man named Kavanagh, about a quarter of an hour after seeing deceased last, that I thought he was too drunk to find his way: Charles Beido deposed that he was a laborer at Mr J. T. Brown's station, Mount Thomas. Hud seen the body viewed by the jury. Found it on 30th in Mr Brown's turnip paddock between the Okuku and Bullock creek, about 11.30 o'clock a.m. Do not know deceased. Had heard there was a search being, made for a missing. man. The body was two chains from tho wire fence ; near it. was a bag, a hat, and a pair of pants. The body was lying face downwards, as if deceased had tripped. There were no signs of any struggle on deceased's clothing or on the ground. By Juror—l informed Mr Brown when the body was found, and also a ploughman. The body was left there as it was. I told them at the station that the body was lying in the turnip paddock. Mr Brown Bent to Mr NicholU. The body was left uncovered, and Bimply in the Btate in which I found it till this morning. Could not Bay if Mr Brown gave any order to cover or protect the body till about eight o'clock this morning. It was in the same Btate this morning when the police came aB when I found it the day previous. The body was about a mile and half from the station.

Sergeant Barlow, stationed at Rangiora, said from information received at 5.50 p.m. on 30th from Mr Nicholls he proceeded on 31st to Mount Thomas station at 4 a.m. Pound the body viewed by the jury in a turnip paddock about half-a-mile from Mount Thomas homestead. The body was on its face with the hands drawn up under the chest. There was a bag containing three new shirts, a guernsey jaoket, Sootch cap, and a pair of new Wellington boots, close to it, also a hat which deceased might have worn. Examined the place, but found no marks of any struggle. Brought the body in a shell to Bacgiora. By the Coroner—The body was found not more than half a mile away from the station. By a juror—The body did not appear to have been disturbed. It was not oovered. It was not possible for the police to have gone to the spot on the 30th, and owing to the late hour we had word, it would not have been possible to find the body in tho dark. If information had been sent three hours earlier the police would have been able to remove the body. .There was no bottle near. The polioe had information that McOonville had seen deceased about a fortnight after the latter waß missing. W. Nicholls, re-called. By a juror—l was informed of the finding of tho body at 3 p.m. on 30th, and I rode in the twenty miles at once. Mount Thomas is nine or ton miles from Hayland. Information could have been sent from Mount Thomaß to Kangiora in a much shorter time than from Haylands. Was with the search party, which passed within a few chains from whore tho body waß found. The jury found—" That deceased had been found dead, but'there was no evidence to Bhow how or in what manner death took plaoe." Mr Jackson, a jurymaD, pointed out the delay which had taken place in sending information to the police, as well as the fact that after the body was found it was still allowed to remain exposed twenty-one hours, and a rider in referonce thereto was agreed to by the jurors present; also complimenting Mr Nioholls, the police, and search parties for their exertions to find the deceased.