Inquest.

Manawatu Herald, 12 October 1893, Page 2

Inquest.

Yesterday morning, the Coroner, E. S. Thynne, Esq., held an inquest on the body of the lad George E. G. I>. Williams, at the Courthouse, Fox ton. ';• Messrs Bradcock, Waters, Ahem, Mcllvride, Keegan, and Westwood, were the jury, and Mr Westwood was elected Foreman. The following evidence was taken : — Frederick Williams, being sworn, deposed- The deceased is my brother. The deceased, myself, and Arthur .Jacob were h'shing at the wharf yesterday, after dinner. The deceased was standing on the bottom of the steps which are afc the- north end of the wharf, fishing with a line ; I was on the wharf, and I heard a splash and then I sawiny brother in the water ; I ran down the stepi but the deceased was too fur out to reach ; I called out to Arthur Jacob to help, but he could not do anything ; I saw the deceased sink twice ; Arthur Jacob called Charles Howe, who went into the river but failed to reach deceased; I then went home ; I returned to the wharf and showed Constable Gillespie where the deceased fell in ; I after,? wards s;i\v Constable Gillespie, find the body ; the deceased was nearly eleven years old ; there had been no quarrelling amongst ns yesterday ; my brother could not swim ; I can swim a little bit. By the constable— l had warned the deceased not to stand on the steps as I had fallen into the river oneb before, trom the same place. By the Foreman — There were nb other boys on the steps with deeras d. Arthur Jacob, being sworn, deposed — I was on the wharf yesterday afternoon, it was about two o'clock in the afternoon ; the deceased ; .wajj standing on the stones close to the steps when I gave him a fish-hook ; I then went on to the top of the wharf about twenty yards aw^rlfoni Fred Williams ; shortly afler^rds I saw Fred and his littler JirQiher running down the stones atidfL then saw deceased floating in the river ; I spoke to Charles Howe who was beside me and he went down to the river and pulled his coat and hat off and went into the river when the deceased sank ; I did not see him after. _ :[ Charles Howe, being sworn, deposed — Yesterday afternoon I was on the wharf, and I heard a splash in the water, and I saw the deceased on his back in the .river, and he appeared as though he was swimming; I asked the boys, young Jacob and two young Williams if the deceased was having a swim, but they said he could not swim; I then ran down and jumped in off the stones after him ; before I could get out to the deceased he sank, and so I turned back ; I was close to' the deceased when he sank ; this would be about fifteen or sixteen yards away from the shore ; I had, all J»y work to get back again ? ioyagjf, having all my clothes on ; when I got to shore I saw deceased floating underneath the water; the thise boys were away from the deceased when 1 heard the splash. By the Foreman— lf I had ft life* buoy I could have saved deceased ; none of the boys called my attention to deceased. By the Coroner— l did not hear / Freddy Williams calling to Arthur Jacob for help. By the constable I can swim a little ; I can dive ; I have noticed ■ the steps at the wharf and think they are easy for anyone who takes care. Elizabeth Ann Williams, being 1 sworn, deposed — I am the mother of

line deceased ; he was born on the 4th June, 1888, in Foxfcon ; he had just recovered from tlje measles ; I do not think the deceased met his death in any manner but by accident. The jury immediately brought in a verdict that the deceased was *^ accidentally drowned. The jury also added the following rider, which they requested the Coroner to forward to the proper authorities, via. " The jury would wish to call the attention of the llailtfay Department to the dangerous state of the steps at the north end of the wharf ; also the advisability of placing' two or more life belts in case of accident."