AN INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 2

AN INQUEST

Tlie death of the youth, James Moore at Stillwater, on Wednesday, which was of a sudden nature, formed the subject yesterday of an inquest. but the verdict was an open one. there being a lack of evidence to show precisely its cause. The inquest was held at the residence of All- Alamice Moore, of Alain Hoad. Stillwater, before Air F. H. lvilgoitr. J.P., Acting Coroner, and a jury of four..

The mother of deceased. Airs Aloore. gave evidence to the effectthat, she found the deceased’s body lying in idle cow byre at about i .St* p.m. on Wednesday. A linesman, named Henry Hihhcrd. stateil that, hearing Airs Moore scream, he went to the cow Inyo, and he saw the body of deceased. lie immediately communicated with ibe police. Dr Violet,. Raines stated that on examining the body, about live hours alter death, she found ail the symptoms showing that death was due to sufiocatiun. There wore slight abrasions on the outside of the neck, besides

signs of .pressure on the neck, tints indicating that death was the result of suffocation. There were oil the body no other marks of violence, and in her opinion death was solely due to the effects of suffocation. A sister of deceased. Margaret Aloore. stated her mother, the deceased and witness were the only ones at home on AVodnesday morning. I lie deceased at 10.3!) had morning tea, asul be was quite happy and was in apparent good health when she last saw him. Constable Rogers, of Brunner, said lliilt lie could find nothing to indicate the manner in which death had been caused when he made an examination. The jury found a. verdict that, the deceased James Aloore met his death through suffocation, lint that there was no evidence to show the manner in which death was caused.