INQUEST

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 140, 1 February 1939, Page 2

INQUEST

THE MARAENUI FATALITIES VERDICT OF accidental • The inquest concerning the deaths of three P.W.D. employees, all single men, was concluded at the Opotiki Police Court last week, before the district coroner, Mr. F l . J. Short. The three men killed in the accident at AXaraenui Hill were: ■Charles Norden. Edward Ashley. Thomas Hughes. Sergeant Isbister conducted ‘proceedings on behalf of the police. The coroner’s verdict was that the deceasedi died at Maraenui Hill on December 22, 1938, as the result of head injuries received through a mot-or-car in which, they were passengers going over a tJiff. The coroner added the fatalities were purely accidental. Sergeant J. Isbister said that on the night of 22nd. December, as a result of information'received, lie proceeded to Maraenui Hill, in company with Dr. H. J. Mail. When lie arrived lie saw where a car had gone over a cliff about SUO feet high. The car was lying about 300 feet down the cliff. Ho went down with the doctor and! a number of Public Works employees. About 100 feet from the top lie found Charles Norden in the scrub. Dr. Mail pronounced life to be extinct. He proceeded further down the cliff 40 to 50 feet and came upon the body of Edward Ashley, and about 100 feet further down lie found the body of Thomas Hughes. They were examined by the doctor. Both were dead. The car was lying about 50 feet below where Hughes’ body was found. It was. jammed against a tree and completely wrecked. With the aid of long ropes and the assistance of Maoris and P.W.D. employees lie commenced the task of bringing the three bodies up. They were placed on a lorry and conveyed to the Opotiki morgue. He stripped l and examined the bodies.