CORONER’S INQUEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1923, Page 1

CORONER’S INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Kokatahi Hotel yesterday forenoon, touching the death of James John Alurtagh whose body was found the previous forenoon on the river beach rear the Kokatahi ford. The District Vo roller (Air Evans) presided, rfergt. King conducted the ease for the police. Evidence was given by Messrs John Lyes. AY. O’Brien, Richard Cropp, James A. Dowell and Constable Drummond. The evidence went to show that the deceased, who was an iml iff event horseman visited Kokatahi on Aion--11 ay forenoon for the purpose of having

hi- horse shod. He resided on a nearly lann on the south side of the Kokalalii river. He laid but three or four drinks during the time he was at Ivokotalii. and left there about -1 o'clock for his Home. That- was the last seen of him alive. The following day a neighbour noticed a dog harking on the south side of the river, and a settler who went to investigate, could -ee the body of a man on the beach close to the u atej-’s edge with a dug oil watch. The matter was reported at once to the police by telephone, and a resident went is make a closer investigation. The del-eased Alurtagh «> I omul lying with Ids lace in a small hole full of water, iiis clothes were all wet. as if he had been in the water. When the police arrived, there was lurther investigation. and a si nr about two inches long was noticeable on fho left temple. There was an indentation in the left boot as though it had been caught in the stirrup. The body was removed then to premises near the hotel. The approach to the ford was steep. The ford itself was a good one. There were about two feet, of wafer ill the river. The theory formed by the police was that in riding dawn the approach to the ford, the horse, which was not surefooted, stumbled, and as

there were no knee pads on the saddle, it is assumed the rider fell off with his left leg still caught, in the stirrup. He uas dragged most probably through the river to the other side, where on the banks there wore hoof marks as though the horse had been plunging. 'I he scar on the forehead mi' close investigation, showed a. depression, but no fracture. It is assumed that the ruler was kicked hv the horse, ami in tin plunging fell clear, but evidently in such a way ns to be face down in a small jmiol of water. If not killed outright by tlm kirk lie might have been stunned, and in that condition was suffocated in tee

water, in which li'.s mouth ami nostrils were. Tim man was staled to be sober when leaving the township for home, lie spoke ol not being satisfied with his horse, and intended getting one more sure-footed.

A verdict was returned of accidental death by drowning. The deceased was about 64 years of age. and is said io have relatives in the North Island. He had been ill the Kokatahi district tor the past two or three years.