DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 937, 5 January 1911, Page 3

DROWNING FATALITY.

SUSPECTED SUICIDE. A man named John Dixon, employed at the Green Flaxdressiug Company's Poplar Mill, at Moutoa, was drowned in the Manawatu River this morning. The deceased, who was a single man, about 41 years of age, bad been employed at the mill lor some time, and had spent the usual : Christmas and New Year holidays at Palmerston North. lie returned to the mill on Tuesday and ; resumed work yesterday, flax- | culling. lie knocked oil work | early, stating that he did not feel ! well, but appeared alright later on, i and nothing was heard from him ; during the night. At about six | o’clock this morning he was seen j walking from his whare towards ; the river, which was about 200 j yards distant. As he did not put | in an appearance at break last a | search was made, and his braces ; and hat were found on the river : bank. Dragging operations were j at once commenced, and the body : was recovered by a man named | McKegney at about 7.40 o'clock, i kite was extinct. The body was ; clothed in a flannel, pants and | bools. His feet and hands were | bound with flax, the feet being j bound tightly together and the ! hands about eighteen inches apart. I The body was brought into the i morgue this morning by Constable j Sweeney, and an inquest was held j this afternoon. | The deceased, who has been tin- i ployed at various mills in the dis- 1 trice ior some time past, comes j from Rougotea, where his mother j resides. | THE INUUEST. | The inquest in connection with | the above was head before Alf. ! Fraser, Esq., District Coroner, ; this afternoon, when the following | evidence was taken. . Cyril Green, llaxrnill manager, | of Moutoa, stated that the de- ! ceased was employed at the Poplar | mill, as llaxcui.ter. East saw him j alive at tea at 5 o’clock last night. | Shortly after six o'clock this I morning the deceased’s fellow- j workers informed witness that he i was missing and upon a search being made his hat. and braces were found on the river bauk. Dragging operation were then commenced and the body was recovered about live or six yards away Irom where the hat was found. When witness spoke to Dixon just before dinner the day previous, he appeared tired and knocked out, but was not intoxicated. . To the police : Deceased was on a drinking bout during the Christmas holidays at Palmerston North. Understood he returned to the mill on Saturday night. Percy Reed, flaxcutter, of Moutoa, knew deceased, and last saw him about half-past five this morning. Saw him walking past the window, but did not speak to him. Was present when the body was recovered, at about half-past seven. The body was clothed in a flannel, pants and boots. His hands and feet were tied up with flax. Should think the hands and feet were tied himself. The feet were tied close together, but the hands were about fifteen or eighteen inches apart. Had known deceased for the last two or three years. Deceased had never said anything that would lead one to believe he contemplated suicide. Arthur McKegney, labourer, residing at Moutoa, stated that at about half-past six he heard that deceased was missing, and the suggestion was made that he was in the river. Witness went across the river to Mr Smith’s and got two drags and on returning commenced to drag for the body, which was recovered about fifteen minutes Uter. When the bodv was recovered it was found that the hands and feet were tied. Had known deceased for about two years. Deceased was of a cheerful disposition. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide by drowning, but there was no evidence to show the state of deceased’s mind at the time.