DRUNKARD’S WATERY GRAVE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1209, 17 February 1914, Page 2

DRUNKARD’S WATERY GRAVE.

EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE AT AN INQUEST. Wanganui, Feb. 16. Extraordinary evidence was given to-day at an inquest into the death of Bert Jones, a roadman, who was drowned in the river at Kawhaiki on Tuesday last. Timothy Hogan stated that deceased and he who were engaged in road-making walked to Upokongaro Hotel where they stayed till noon. They had four or five long beers and they took away with them three bottles of beer and one bottle of whisky, some of which they drank on the way to the camp. They reached a point on the river opposite to the camp about 4.is, and called for a canoe, and a boy brought one across, Hogan refused to enter it thinking the craft unsafe. Jones, however, went in the canoe which he rocked till it capsized. The boy swam ashore to get assistance for Jones, who was getting on the bottom of the upturned canoe, but when he returned Jones had sunk.

A police constable said he had made enquiries at the hotel and was satisfied that the men were sober when they left there. A half-filled bottle of whisky was found on the body. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned through his own recklessness while under the influence of drink.