MYSTERY NEAR TAIHAPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3717, 15 November 1927, Page 4

MYSTERY NEAR TAIHAPE.

DEAD MAN IN WHARE. BODY STILL UNIDENTIFIED. TAIHAPE, Nov. 11. 11l a lonely whare beside the road ten miles beyond Hihitahi lias been found the dead body of an unknown man, iand although an inquest has been opened and evidence taken Ins identity is still shrouded in mystery. There are no marks of violence on the body and an old black.pipe found beside the corpse tells a pathetic story of a last puff before death overtook the lone ytrpnger. The body now lies at the hospital morgue at Tailiapo awaiting identification. An inquest was opened to-day at Tailvape before the Coroner (Mr J. P. Aldridge). Constable King stated that, acting upon information received, he went to Itangiwaea at 6 p.lll. on Thursday, in company with Constable McDonnell. There they found the body of a mail in an unoccupied whare on the side of the road, about ten miles beyond Hihitahi. The body was that of a man about 50 years of age. He was sturdily built, about Oft. Tin. in height, pale complexion, with dark hair turning grey. His head was partly bald and ho had a pointed nose, grey eyes, moustache, and a few discoloured teeth in both jaws. On his right arm two crossed flags were tattooed. He was dressed in a grey flannel and a black shirt, light grey trousers, a pair of black and white socks, ■ and hob-ntailed boots (size seven).' Lying alongside the body were a brown coat, an ohl Burberry khaki coat, a light felt hat with a pipe on top of it, an open book and a swag containing blankets. here were no names distinguishable on any of the clothing, but the name “Edward Newman” was stamped on the book,

There was no documentary evidence on the body to reveal the dead mail’s identity. The position of the body cleanly indicated that deceased had died from natural causes. From all appearances lie had been seated on his swag with his coat discarded and reading a book, when he suddenly expired. Constable King said- that he had never seen deceased before but he had been told that on the day prior to the discovery deceased lmcl called at a house about a quarter of a mile further down the road from the whare and had obtained a billy of tea. The inquest ivas adjourned sjnc die, and in the meantime the police will be glad of any information that will lead to establishing the identity of deceased.