DEATH OF "BLIND BILLY."

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 31 May 1920, Page 2

DEATH OF " BLIND BILLY."

BODY FOUND IN OTAKI CEMETEKY. AVhile Miss Mcßeth, a patient at the Otaki Sanatorium, was traversing, via the cemetery, to the institution on Saturday afternoon, she found the dead body of Wiremu Hamuera Pomare, commonly known as "Blind Billy." a well known identity, who has resided in Otaki for the past -12 years. At the inquest, which was held this morning before Mr W. C. Nation, district coroner, the following evidence Ivipa te Whaianui stated deceased had been living with him smce 187 S, and liis age was about 7S years. Deceased, who was born at Poxton. had been blind since he was ten years of age. lb: last saw deceased 'alive on Thursday night last, when he had tea, said good i.ight, :,ud then went to the wEare where he slept. Ho then seemj ed in his usual health. He was an old , age pensioner, his trustee being Mr j Jack Meads. Deceased always went where he liked, no one evor attempted I to stop him.

-Alary Mcßeth stated she was a patient a. the Otaki Sanatorium, and recently returned from the front. She was walking through the cemetery at

ibout 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon when she saw deceased lying on hia back in about the middle of the cemetery, s-he examined the body suffi' cienlly to learn that tio was dead. She then proceeded to the hospital and telsphoued particulars to the police. Xr\ lo r opinion deceased died of cxpobiy, Friday night being particularly u* o i d Constable Satherley stated ' that " ia response to the telephone rr,,,, 11gc he proceeded to the cemetery. Uo foun(l l.»' deceased lying on » jis back( tho ;"'" ' ol,icd ««>*' thr.. cucst> and tho l.mv hem up as if tf, keep wam D(J . ci used was dressed \ n :ln old ( , oati : '" d '"""or*. He was wearing no other clothing, no examined the body an.i louud thv iower pari of the back covered with running sores. There were no oihci marks. He had known the deceased tor about twelve years, and knew he was in the habit of wandering about and visiting different Natives. In hi opinion deceased was on his way lo Mi Alt' Knocks', and had wandered alone the wrong road, and finally died of exposure. A verdict of death from exposurewas returned.