INQUEST.

Manawatu Herald, 25 October 1889, Page 2

INQUEST.

«r — — An inquest on the body of Bertha 1 Theresa Allan, who drowned her- ' self on Monday last, was held on, , Wednesday a*, Whyte's hotel before E. S. Thynne the Coroner for the | district and a jury of six.' '••' , 't he following were the jury, Messrs \ John Kirkwood, John R. Stansell • A. Fraser, C. Honore, E. Osborne and E. Nolan. Mr Stansell was \ elected foreman. After the jury had been sworn in l and had viewed the body the following evidence was taken. Charles Proctor being Bworn said, i list Monday afternoon I was fishi ing for whitebait at the end of the wharf. My brother -called my at- \ tention to some one in the river, and I thought it was a man. I went i and told the men on thestenmfcr and . 5 also the constable. When I saw the "■ body in tho river it was five or six . yards from the shore She seemed to go out further , .: i Frank Proctor being sworn said, • I was just getting my line ready to I throw out into the -winter, when I heai d some one sipging out, and it • came from the person in the water. > She was five or si« yards Jin the water, and seemed to be washing ■ ' out further. She was laying on the wat(»r when T «fttv her, I saw ne

one standing near her on the bank of the river. Albert Tnpp being sworn said — I •was with Frank Proctor by the river on Monday between ono and half past ono o'clock, and he pointed out some one in the -water to inc. 1 heard her singing out for help. I saw no one .standing near the tfiVer bank when she went in. i y the constable— You were just going out when I came up to tell yon. I <Rd not see any one else come to the house. You gave me a telegraru'. o take. Alfred Wood baing swoin said — On Monday about a quarter past one I was lying in tbe goods shed on the wharf, and heard some one singing out. I heard some people manning by, and I came out to look, and saw some one in the rivt- about -■a h<Mu!red yards below the goods -sWI, and I saw her go down. I xs-ont into the water and got her hat and wrapper. She was about twenty foet in the water. The mate of the steamer and two sailors went for their boat. George Amos Tapp being sworn ftaid I am the constable stationed at ' oxfcon. At a 'out 1.20 p.m. on Monday Miss Allan came to my house aiid told me her sister had Sjono down to the river, she had said that she would drown herself. I wont aovl got my hat and coat and go ng Tound the house met my boy Attort, he then told me that s >me V.chad been drowned. He tbou ght it was a boy. He said he had informed several men down aI; the steamer, I soon after ran down and saw several persons there. Then a «eareh party was made up. The ».voxt ilny and ac about 12.20 pm. we succeeded in finding- the body. 1 assisted to pull the bod}' into the boat. We afterward ■» brou .-lit it to ■w here it now lies. I searched the pockets and found three gold rings and a brooch which a peared to have heen in a small paper box wrapped np iii an envelope. At the time I ■searched the deceased I also found a box of keys. The property founl on deceased was in a paper box the parts of which I produce. I recognise the body as being that of Bertha Theresa Allan. I know nothing against her. 4 gneß Allen being sworn said — The deceased was my daughter and was 18 years and 8 months old. She was single, and was living- with mo. About half past one on Monday lastjfhe deceased Bertha Theresa , came !hto the kitchen and wished me good bye as she was going- to drown herself she said. I did not thjnk she was going- to drown harself but my eldest daughter went for the constable. Bertha then want out ofthe .feaftk yard and must have fecnfeP^fefglrF^^the.i-ivei'. 1 had some words with' the deceased about her conduct with Joseph Moran. In the earlier part of the day when deceased was grieving, I told her that t she could marry this Moran. The ( girl was subjected to fits and has < been for 48 hours in a trance. Thf ; deceased life was not insured. i By^the constable. She has not ( previously threatened to drown her- ; self. When my daughter spoke to , you the deceased -was on my pre- , inise*. I gnve all the alarm I could. \ Joseph Walter Moran being sworn | said — I. recognise the body lying outside as being that of Bertha ( Allan. 1 have no idea why the girl should drown herself on Monday. I was courting her, and I had a row with her on Sunday night, which ' was, the last time I saw her alive. I have been visiting her about 12 months. I had promised to many ! her. 1 We were to have been married in February next, she wanted to be ' married earlier. lam a single man. ' We parted not extra good friends on Saturday night. (The witness here objected to mention Tvliat was the ' cause of the quarrel. The jury after a few minutes deliberation brought in a verdict that the said Bertha Theresa f llan did drown herse f on Monday last whilst temporarily insane. They also handed up a ridor to the effect that the jury are dissatisfied with the answers given by the witness J. Moran.

Messrs Walsh A Howan invite tenders for the erection of one or more dwelling houses, labour only. Tenders close on Friday, Ist November. A business notice from Mr Milbam, bricklayer, Feilding, will be found in our advertising columns. This morning two cases, one for aßsault and. ,th« .other for arson, were remanded to Wednesday next. Mr Gardner requires two yoiithß for the Paiaka fjaxnrill. Tenders are invited by the Wirokino Boad Board for formation of roads. Tenders close at noon on Friday Ist November.