Inquest.

Manawatu Herald, 19 September 1899, Page 2

Inquest.

On the 26th August last a man named James Linklater was engaged in getting up the anchor on Messrs Kemp and Jupp's punt, and fell overboard. Though everything was done at the time to recover the body, and also since, nothing was seen of it till yesterday when the constable was informed that it was floating in the river not far from the scene of the accident. The body was taken to Whyte's Hotel sample room and an inquest was held at n a.m. this morn* ing before E. S. Thynne, Esq., Coroner, and the following jury: — Walter Alzdorf (Foreman), Reginald Wright, James . Sutton, Matthew Walker, and John Madeley. William Jupp being sworn said I am an engineer residing at Foxton. I am the owner of the steam launch Florence and also of a flax punt. I have seen the deceased and I recognise him as James Linklater who fell from my punt into the Manawatu river on Saturday night the 26th August. He had only been in my employ from 10th July. He was about 28 years of age, industrious and seemed to enjoy good health. On Saturday evening the 26th August I went in the launch to the puut anchored out in the river, and put the deceased and another man, Henry Arnold, on board the punt to take in the anchor as the launch pulled her up to it. I was bringing the punt slowly up to the anchor, and just as we had her up level to the anchor, Linklater appeared to take a dive into the river, head first. He appeared to have hold of the rope of the anchor at the time. The moment 1 saw deceased drop I shoutad •' Man overboard " and reversed the lever and went back to the punt, and ran to the stern in hopes of catching him. He never rose from the time he went into the river. This occurred about a quarter to eight in the evening and one could just see. There was a fresh coming down. I threw a lifebuoy in case he should have risen. We hung around the punt for about half an hour in the hopes of seeing something of him, and then Captain Kemp and mysojf steamed about two miles down the river and searched till half- past ten. On the Kriday prior to his death deceased did not come to work, but did on Saturday morning when I asked him if he was well enough to work, he replied "Never felt better in my life." By the Constable — The deceased I was a foot away from the other man on the punt. They were both pulling j on different ropes. George Warren, being sworn, said I am a labourer residing at 'Foxton. I have worked with deceased at times, but not on the night he met his death. I last saw him alive on Saturday morning, he appeared then in very good health. He was laid up the day before, having had a fit on Thursday evening. I was with him then. He : told me on the Thursday morning that he was subject to fits and I must not be surprised if he had one at any time. I have only known htm three weeks. He was between 26 and 37 years of age. I have seen two of hit brothers down here. By the Constable — He was a temperate man. - When he had the fit he fell down head first. John Forster, being sworn, said I am the constable stationed at Foxton. I saw the body of the deceased floating in the river yesterday morning opposite Austin's mill. I brought the body ashore and had it conveyed to Stansell's sample room. I searched =the body and found a purse and some letters in the coat pocket. The deceased was fully dressed with an oilskin on tied round the waist with a piece of flax. He has a brother living at Patea, one at Otakeho and an uncle at Manaiafif His'two brothers were in Foxton on the Bth or 9th September. I have communicated with the brothers and uncie by telegram yesterday. I saw no marks of violence on the body. In a few minutes the jury returned the following verdict: — " That the deceased was drowned in the Manawatu river whilst seized with a fit, accidentally and not otherwise.