THE TE HORO TRAGEDY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 January 1915, Page 2

THE TE HORO TRAGEDY

* INQUEST ON REMAINS OF A BODY •On Saturday morning, Mr W. C. Nation, Coroner, liold an inquest at the Otaki 'Jonrthouso on the remains of what is believed to be the body of Herbert Alfred Hodge, who, oil the night of 11th January, was fishing in company with his father on the Te Ho to beach. Beyond the evidence given at the inquest there was nothing new. The remains found «n the morning of Friday last were presumed to be those of young Hodge. The Coroner brought in a verdict, of "Found Drowned," and added the following note: "The remains are those of a full grown man, but identification is impossible. The body was found on the beach at Te Horo about two miles from the place where Herbert Hodge and his son Alfred disappeared on the night of 11th instant. The body of the father was found next day, but the son's body could not be found. It is probable that the remains found on the 22nd instant are those of Alfred Hodge, b«t there is no conclusive evidence on this point." Edwin Taylor, being sworn, said: I am a farm labourer working at Te

" Young people, old people, Horo. On the 22nd January (yostorWhether short or tall, c ] a y) 9.15 a..m., I was riding along 11 TCT A DDII/CTI ? Get y° ur „ TT TT »rx the beach at To Horo looking for the ! At the HUGH HALL body ()f Mr Ho rbort Alfro<l Hodge, wlio Just a few of the Vast Assortment — with his father was drowned on the lltli Ex S.B. SOMERSET Gentlemen's Travelling Companions, ,:,ilc T s sol,th of Pipe Companions, Pipes, Cigars and where they had been Rslnng I saw some Cigarette Holders, Gold and Silver thing floating in the water, close in Mounted, Military and Handle Hair shore, coming in with the tide. T A Pi ifA Pji f-T Q«p rjf Brushes, in ebony and ivory, Tobacco, rode oiit to see what tlie object was nriC Cigar and Cigarette Cases, Wallets and found the remains of a. human and Purses, WalkinglSticks (gold and body. I carricd hem to tlio shore and f k vi w i V silver (mounted), Silver Match Boxes, reported to the con&tahle at Otaki. It 611 I 4 II Ihl fi IB| 4 1 r UhUr\ Sovereign Cases Shaving Companions was impoKsibkj to identify tlio reinnins; Jilr r vHLr L/O * ano y Boxes of Cigars and Cigarettes , tc „ „. ]icfllw 01 . fc . * Ebony Hair Brushes, Mirrors, Perfumes male; judging by the remains they _ Suitable for Ladies. wore those of a tall man. Both hands were found—one attached to the body ; ————■ Huffh H<ul the other about twenty or thirty yards I— s Tobacconist away. Tlio hands were large, as if be-

return of case I I Oxfoi'd-street LEVJN. longing to a man; all tlio fingers were A Grand Lot of Patterns to choose from. B on the hand, tlmt is. what was left of tliem. The flesh was stripped •. from Do not fail to see these. It is worth your L> Ci |f|ERTON, LL. them. There was no clothing. There while Successor to was no flesh Oil the remains. The frkl - ' HARPER AND HARPI , I skull was missing nisi* all the ribs, cxly's BARRISTERS & SOLICIT AS, «*!»<* one; the hip hones, the thigh _ . LJVIfc bones, and one of the lower hones of the ?ruit. m|w Cfcfl maii leg was missing. Tlio flesh had been this ' yu. Money to lend on approver 1 ?POnr- eaten clean away from the bones. All nd 10s Gd ity a<> lowest current " lvas was sk ' n onc the bones below the liuee. There was pe f S ° GHAS. BLENKHORN, nothing by which to identify the re-' kot ' pints ' BARRISTER & SOLICITOR, » iains - T,l<> sizo of . tho liands s avo 1110 .. , , , the iniprossion that thev belonged to s lOd doz. Money to lend on approved secur- lJerl)ort Alfml Hodge '

Frederick Belcher said': I am a police constable stationed at Otaki. On Friday, the 22nd January, at 10.30 a.m., I was informed by Edwin Taylor that ho had' found the remains of a human body on the Te Horo beach. I went to tho placo and took possession of them, and Tjrought tliein to the Police Station at Otaki. I can corroborate what tho last witness deposed as to the condition and appearance of the remains. I do not believe the remains can be identified. Tt is my impression that the remains are those of Herbert Alfred Hodge, who disappeared with his father on tho night of trie 11th instant.