INQUEST AT WAIKANAE.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 16 July 1919, Page 3

INQUEST AT WAIKANAE.

j 4 j An inquest, was held at Waikanao o , j Saturday on James Cooper, who wa found dead last Heck, j Thomas William Brown, being sworn i stated: I knew the deceased, who ha ' been working for us for about threi : years. During that period he suil'erct • from chest complaint, and also had ; bad attack of influenza, since which h< had not been able to work. He was 1 very deaf, and when asked how lie felt patted his chest and said he could , ; hardly breathe. I saw him on Saturj day—this was the last time I saw him alive. On Thursday I received a tcle- • phone message from my brother saying j he had not seen tho old fellow about. ; That evening we went to the old man’s ! whare and found it locked —a usual oc- ' currcnco when ho was home. The place was forced open, and he was found lying, in a natural positien, there being no sign of any struggle, while he was j undressed as if lie had gone to bed in j the usual way. His appearance was I that he had passed'away in his sleep. | He was always a steady, sober man as far as I know. j George Herbert Cattermolc Brown j stated: I saw deceased last Sunday at ( 4 p..m. collecting scrub for his fire, and also ou the previous evening, when he ! appeared well. Later he acquainted his brother of the fact that he had not ■ seen deceased for a few days and was present when the whare was forced. | Allan Sa-thcr-cy deposed: In response f to a telephone message I visited AVai- ' kanac and saw deceased. I should say he had passed away in his sleep. From enquiries made I ascertained deceased was a married man, but had been separated from his wife for many years. He had a son who had worked, at last advices, at tho Kaluga!] eke goldfields. Deceased was 70 years < f age, and in his early days had followed goldmining. There was no trace of letters in his pockets, but T found £3 395. A verdict was returned that death was due to natural cauecs.