DEATH AT THE WIRES,

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4720, 4 July 1924, Page 2

DEATH AT THE WIRES,

INQUEST ON THOMAS BULLARD, VERDICT OF HEART FAILURE. The inquest into the circumstances .surrounding the death of Thomas Bullard, who was found face downwards in a swamp at The Wires, near Whangamata, was conducted before Mr F. E. Flatt, district coroner, on Wednesday afternoon. Christopher Downs, labourer, residing at The Wires, in evidence said that he had known deceased for about nine years and had worked with him on Mr L. Buchanan’s farm. The last time he had seen deceased was on Saturday last. Deceased had been laid up for some time with a cold. On Monday evening witness when passing the whare called out to deceased, but on receiving no reply he entered the whare and made an inspection, and found that the fire had not been lighted. He then went on to his own whare, which was about a mile from deceased’s, and telephoned Mr Buchanan and told him he could sec no sign of Bullard and expressed the opinion that something might have happened to deceased. It was then too dark to do anything further. On Tuesday morning witness met Mr Buchanan, who had already found deceased's body. Witness stated that lie had always found the deceased a very steady and clean-living man. In conversation with deceased on one occasion he had learned that he had a brother down South. He did not know deceased’s religion. While Bullard was laid up Mr Buchanan visited him at his hut every day.

Lennox Buchanan, farmer and sawmiller, residing at The Wires, identified deceased, who had been in his employ for about five years. During the last two years Bullard had not done any hard work. On Sunday afteilioon last be saw deceased on two occasions, on one of which deceased stated that he thought he would start work again the next day. Witness told hun there was no hurry, and that he ha*! better wait for a day or t,wo. Witness said he did not anticipate that deceased would suffer any ill effects from his cold. On the Monday evening he received a telephone message from Downs about 7.30 o’clock to the effect that deceased was not in his whare, but owing to the night being dark and rough it was useless going out to search then. The following morn.T.g at daybreak he searched for deceased and found him lying face down on the ground in a swamp about three chains from the hut. The body was fully clothed, and deceased had liis hat on. There were no signs of a struggle having taken place. He then informed the police, and Constable McClinchy arrived about 5 p.m. that day and assisted witness to carry the bedy in. The police searched the whare in witness’ presence. A portmanteau belonging to deceased contained a suit of clothes and a Post Office Savings Bank book showing a credit balance of £271 2s 2d. There was also a silver watch under the pillow. On a shelf above the bed was a gold sovereign case and £1 4s in cash, also a double-barrel gun, all of which were taken charge of by the police. Witness said he had known deceased for eight years, and had always found him a temperate, steady, and goodliving mna. During the last two years deceased had appeared to age considerably, and had complained occasionally of pains in the chest. He or some member of his family had frequently visited the whare and given deceased medicine during the time he was ill. Witness stated that he had heard deceased speak of Nelson, and Springfield, or a name like that, near Nelson. Constable McClinchy gave evidence as to receiving the telephone message from Mr Buchanan, his visit to The Wires, and the bringing of the body to Paeroa. Witness added that he had known deceased for a period of 22 years as a steady, temperate man, who was respected by all who knew him. Dr. T. G. Smith stated that the post-mortem examination show the body to be that of a fairly well nourished man, and there were no signs of external violence. The heart was diseased and dilated, and the lungs were much congested and the liver enlarged. In his opinion deceased liad died from heart failure. There was no doubt that congestion of the lungs had hastened the failure of the heart’s action. He estimated that deceased was a man between 60 and 70 years of age. The finding by the coroner wtts that deceased, Thomas Bullard, met his deatli at The Wires, between Sunday, June 29, and Tuesday, July 1, death being caused by heart failure, brought on by a dilated heart.