INQUEST ON DENNIS FITZGERALD.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 160, 20 February 1869, Page 5

INQUEST ON DENNIS FITZGERALD.

6k Saturday last an Inquest was held at the Eoyal Oak Hotel, Blenheim, by H. ■Williams, Esq., Coroner, and the following ; Ul .y : _3iessrs. Johnson (foreman), Connor, Thompson, Hoskins, Hamilton, bimmonds, Richards, Williams, Jackson, H. O’Leary, J. O’Leary, and J. O’Hara. John Cates deposed that he recognised the body of deceased. The last time he saw him alive was on Wednesday night, the tOth instant, when, having 1 been over to James Smith’s residence, he met deceased about 500 yards .from his own. place. As soon as he saw me he pulled up his horse to speak to me, asking where I lived; I showed him, and he then said he wished he was as near home as I was. .Asking how far it was to Tua. Marina, told him f of a mile. He said then, ‘‘l’ll soon get to Blenheim.” I .said, “Yes; you’ll soon get there now:” 7 After bidding good eyenILghe started home in a canter ; this was about 6.0’c10ck,... Believe he had had a glass or two, but he was quite capable of ' doing what ho wished.. Am certain he was quite as capable of taking care of himself as I am at thid : -"minute. Saw the body taken out of the "water'this' day. John Eitzgerald deposed that deceased

was his brother. On previous day heard that his horse had been found drowned at the Ferry, and in company with H. Leary went over there, when we were informed that two men were gone to Picton. I went on till I got to Tua Marina Hotel, thinking he might have stayed there, and the horse came on alone. On asking the landlady she told me that on Wednesday, being poorly, she had laid down, when she heard a cooey, but on coming down he was _gone. I went next to Cates’, and met him in the road. He told me he was coming along about 5 o’clock, but to day he said 6 o’clock. [Witness repeated Cates’ evidence.] This morning left with 30 to 40 others to go and search the Wairau river. We used two boats, and with grapnels dragged the river until a little after dinner time, when I found him myself, and pulled him to the top of the water. Deceased once told me there was a ford higher up where he would as soon cross as wait, if the punt was on the other side. We found the body just under the rope, near the punt. He has told me he had crossed the river safely on the same mare. There are no marks of importance on the body. Deceased could not swim.

J. J. Paan. constable, deposed that from information received yesterday afternoon—that a horse had been found drowned in the Wairau —he proceeded there, and saw the horse, saddle, and bridle. About an hour after a cousin of deceased came and identified them. Took a boat and searched both sides of the river, and at the old crossing found the tracks of an unshod horse coming to the river and not returning. The dead horse was unshod. We continued searching till 2'15 this afternoon, when the body was found. On examining it there were no signs of violence ; in the pockets were the purses and money produced. Great praise is due to Mr. Hathaway for the assistance rendered.

The jury returned a verdict “ that Dennis Fitzgerald was accidentally drowned in crossing the Wairau”