CORONIAL INQUIRY.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 169, 26 October 1881, Page 2

CORONIAL INQUIRY.

Henry M'Neil, Deputy Coroner, held an inquest yesterday morning upon the body of the man found on, the preceding day m the Manawatu River, and supposed tpibe that of Joseph Sutcliffe Foulds, who was drowned on the 28th of last month. The following Jury, of which Mr. Alexander Ferguson was chosen Foreraan, was empannelled, and having viewed the body, evidence waa taken j Alexander Ferguson, Samuel Bwing, James King, John 0. Fowler, Andrew Eng, Robert Johnstone, James Burke, Emile Metard, Henry Wood, Thomas Wray, Alfred Pattridge and George Cole. Martin Boesen, deposed; — I am a settler residing at Fitzherbeton. I remember the 28th of September. On that day I saw Joseph Sutcliflfe Foulds, who Qame witUwe tQ F^iW|tG.n tQ bryig

some things back to Fitzherbert. He came to Palmerston about ten o'clock m the forenoon of that day. We returned as far as the river bank of the Manawatu at about four p.m. We did not cross the river on our return m the evening. I told Foulds to go down to the canoe and wait there until I came back. I went back again but could not see the deceased. That was about four o'clock m the afternoon. I have not seen him alive since. I looked for the canoe, and foun' 1 it about forty chains below where it was usual y kept. It was broken. I identified the body outside the court as Joseph Sutcliffe Foulds, the man who took the canoe that day. To Foreman: The river was a little up ou that d-ij. The paddles were found by Constable Gillespie. The reason T did not go with the deceased for the canoe was, that I wanted to put Mrs. Newcornbe over the river. About a quaiter of an hour elapsed until I went to look for Foulds. Ten miuutes elapsed during my absence, but I heard no cries for assistance. I did not warn deceased not to go into the boat, but I told him to wait for me. To the Coroner : Deceased was working at his own place. He was sober on the day m question. He was about ten years m the colony. To the Foreman : When I missed Foulds and the canoe I went back, took the boat, crossed over, and inquired if anything had been seen of him. Louis Poleon and I then went m search of the canoe, and we found it down the river,, broken. Louis Poison examined ; I reside across the Manawatu River, at Fitzherbert, and am working for Mr. Ihle I remember the 28th of September. I accompanied the last witness to look for a canoe, about four m the afternoon, or p^rhap* it might | be a little latter. I found the canoe about forty chains down on a snag and it was broken. Boesen told me that he had left Foulds to see after the canoe and when he went to look for him he was missing, and asked me to look for him: When we found the canoe I was under the impressionJFoulds was drowned. As it was dark we made no search. I did not see deceased that day, but I did on the previous one. I have seen Foulds a few time, and to the best of my belief the body outside the Court is his. ! I identify him by his clothes and height. I reported the loss that same evening to Constable Gillespie. I made search the following day m company with Constable Gillespie, but got no trace of the deceased. James Ryan deposed: I reside m Fitzherbert, and am a bushman. On last Sunday, the 23rd of October I was on the river bed looking for a s stray horse, when I came close to a log I saw i something like a body, but I was not certain as it was discolored by the action ! of the water, and the shirt being drawn over the head. I then, about seven o'clock m the evening, came into Palmerston and reported the matter to the Police. Oft the following day I accompanied Constable Gillespie, and poiuted out where the body was. The body outside is that I found on the river bank. I didnot know the deceased. It might be about a mile from where the boat should bf\ to where I found the body. The body was lying across a log with the arms over his head and his shirt coveriag both head and arms. The trowsers were over the boots. When I saw it next day the water was close up, to it, and as the river had risen about eighteen inches, a very little would have floated it away again. It was on the north side of the river. After a short consultation the Jury returned the following verdict :•• — "That the deceased Joseph Sutcliffe Faulds was accidentally drowned m the Manawatu River, near Palmerston on the 25th of September."