TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1611, 16 September 1916, Page 3

TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

WELL-KNOWN RESIDENT DROWNED.

Mr L. W. Wilson, a resident of Eoxton of many years standing, met his death in a tragic manner on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, his body being found in the Awahou drain yesterday morning. It is surmised that, the deceased, whilst walking along in the dark, fell into the drain and struck his head on the woodwork, the drain at the spot being boxed in along the sides and on the bottom, as the body, when recovered, showed a bruise over the right eye and temple. The body was lying face downwards in the drain, which had about two feet of water in it. The body was found by deceased’s son, who had been sent to look for him, as he had not returned home.

The deceased, who was only 38 years of age, had resided in Foxton since l boyhood. lie was a married man, and leaves a widow and live children.

The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon, leaving bis late residence at 2.30 o’clock for the Eoxton cemetery. THE INQUEST. An inquest was held before Mr Alf. Eraser, District Coroner, Ibis morning, when the following evidence was given:— Oswald Lewis Wilson, aged 12) years, sou of deceased, said that lie and his father left home at ahont a. quarter to seven on Wednesday night. On arrival in town witness went to the pictures and deceased said he was going to get a shave,

and would call for witness at halftime. At half-time at the pictures deceased was wailing outside. He was drunk. They started to go home, and when (hey got as far as All- Kruse's place deceased said he was tired and would lay down for a while. He slept for about half an hour, and then got up and went as far as Mr (). Cook's, where he fell down. He crawled under the gorse bushes near the drain and went to sleep. He a waken ml after about three-quarters of an hour, and (hen went to sleep again. As witness was wet through he then went home, arriving there at a quarter to twelve. Deceased had a bottle of liquor, from which he had live or six drinks on his way home. He told witness it was whisky. Deceased did not come home that night, and witness went to look for him on Thursday morning, but could not tind him. As he did not arrive home on Thursday night, witness again

went to look for him on Friday morning, leaving home at about 10 o’clock. He found the body in the drain at the corner of Avenue Road and Spring Street, and came and informed the police. His mother sent him to look for his father. He did not inform the police that deceased was missing, as on former occasions he had stayed away for several days at a time.

To the police: Witness had to assist his father along. He fell down two or three times before he got in front of Air Kruse’s. The tirsl: time he fell was near (he windmill. On the last occasion that he fell he couldn’t got up again.

Constable Woods stilted that at about 10.45 o'clock yesterday morning, in consequence of information received, he wont to the corner of Avenue Road and Spring Street and found the body of de-l-eased in the drain. It was lying lace downwards with the head towards Foxton. On removing (ho body to the hank of the drain he found a bruise over the right eye and temple. The bottom and sides of the drain were boxed in, and there was no doubt the bruise was caused through striking the woodwork when deceased fell in. He removed the body to (ho morgue. There was about two feet of Will or in the drain, and the water was Jlowing over the body.

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death by drowning while in a state of intoxication.