A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2275, 12 May 1921, Page 3

A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

MR. JOHN AHERN’S DEATH

Mr John Ahern, one of Foxtou’s oldest residents, met liis death under tragic circumstances last night. Js appears that the deceased left town for hi- home shortly before* seven o’clock, and in the dark must have stumbled, and in falling struck his temple on a picket fence, through which he fell, and was caught' by the feet, his head hanging over the fence. The fall must have rendered him unOonscious, and as he was hanging head downwards, dentil was due to the rush of blood to the head. The late Mr Ahern was 7(3 years of age, and leaves a widow and one daughter (Airs A. E. Dunn) to mourn their loss. The funeral will lake place tomorrow afternoon, leaving his late residence, Avenue Road, at 2.30 o’clock, for the Foxton cemetery. COKOXIAL INQUIRY.

An inquiry was held iuto the circumstances surrounding the death of John Ahern, of Foxton, at the Court House this morning, before Mr Alf Fraser, coroner.

Albert Edward Dunn, carpenter, Foxton, stated that deceased was his father-in-law, a married man, residing with his wife. He was about 76 years of age. and in good health excepting for an attack of gout twelve months previously. He had left his home and had come to town about 0.30 yesterday morning. Deceased did not return during the day, and when it became dark a search was made for him. Mr Dunn stated that lie next saw the deceased lying dead on the footpath in Avenue Road, in front of Mr Coley’s house. He assisted to remove the body home. Deceased was not as firm on his feet as lie

was a year ago,

Charles Leonard Podmore, carrier, residing at Foxton, gave evidence that lie knew deceased, and had last seen him alive about 6.50 p.m. yesterday. He did not speak to deceased. Deceased was near the corner of Hall Street and Avenue Road when lie saw him, and deceased appeared to be going home. He then appeared in be just as usual. William Henry Coley, labourer, residing at Foxton, stated that he know deceased. At about 7.45 his attention was drawn to what appeared to be a human body lying over his gate. On investigating lie found the body of a m;in, which lie recognised as that of John Ahern, lying head downwards over his fence, with bis feet caught in the paling. He lifted the body up and laid it on the footpath. He remained with, the body until the arrival of the police. He stated that it' would be quite an easy matter for a person to stumble at his gateway in the dark. He noticed blood on the fence. The fence was only about two few six inches above the level of the footpath.

Robert Owen, police constable, stated that at 8 o’clock last night, iii response to a telephone message, he went to Avenue Road and found deceased lying on the footpath opposite Mr Coley’s residence. The body was still warm. There was an abrasioij on the left temple, and deceased was bleeding from the nostrils. He removed the body to de-

ceased residence, and there made a close examination of the body, but. failed fo find any trace of violence on the body or limbs. In consequence of what he had been told he examined the palings beside where the body had been lying, and found blood on the palings and on the railing to which they were nailed. There was a fairly deep depression at the spot, the footpath not having been formed, and it was his opinion that in walking along there in the dark it would be quite an easy matter to trip and fall, and in falling catch in the fence. AVitness stated also that- he thought that the blow caused by striking his head on the palings would be sufficient •to render him unconscious, and that death would be sure to follow, as he was lying head down. The Goroner returned a verdict that John Ahern had met his death by accidentally falling over a picket fence.