CORONIAL INQUIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3854, 6 October 1928, Page 3

CORONIAL INQUIRY.

INTO DEATH OF CHILD MORGAN. A coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of James Thomas Morgan, the five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Morgan, of Park Street, Foxton, Avho disappeared from a farm at Whirokino, on September sth, cwas held in the local Courthouse on Thursday before Mr. A. Fraser, Coroner.

Job Thomas Morgan, father of the child stated that his son avus five years and five months old. Witness gave evidence of identification of the body as that of his son. The last time he saw him alive Avas on Saturday, September Ist at his home. On the same date deceased Avent to stay with a friend, Mrs. W'hitloAV, of Wthirokino. Witness was notified that deceased Avas missing from the farm on September sth. As a result witness visited Whirokino and helped to search for his son. The search was carried on until last Sunday. The river was in flood at the time of the boy s disappearance. Witness Avas ad-A-ised of the recovery of the body on Thursday morning. When deceased went out to Whirokino he Avas in fair health.

Thelma C. WhitloAV, aged 14 years, stated that prior to the child’s disappearance he Avas staying at AA r itness’s home. On the afternoon of September sth, Avitness and deceased Avere fishing for Avhitebait on the river bank. They kept running backwards and forAvards to the house Avith the Avhitebait they caught. Witness last suav deceased alive about 3 p.m. Avhen she called him from the house to get some tea. He Avas then standing on the stop bank by the river. He did not go to the house, hoAvever, and after a while witness went to look for him but could not find him. She notified her parents,, and a search Avas made Avithout, result and the police Avere notified. Constable Bell gave evidence as to the recovery of the body. Deceased Avas caught in a snag a chain out from the bank and eight chains below Mrs. Whitlow’s house. The verdict Avas that deceased met his death on sth September by drowning in the Manawatu River at Whirokino.