MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A SETTLER.

Southland Times, Issue 1324, 21 October 1870, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A SETTLER.

The man found dead at the , "Edendale station, towards the base of the Hokanuis, lias been identified as Mr J Eobt. Hunter, a settler at the Halfway Bush. The ; cireuraatanees__a.ttending -his death are. altogether mysterious. Deceased, it lappears, farmed a piece of land about Wo miles from M'lntosh's accommodation house. He lived all alone, and is reported tor have been strictly sober. On the afternoon of Friday last, he , went to the Halfway Bush post office for his letters. The non-arrival of a newspaper seemed to cause him so much annoyance that the fact was taken particular notice of by the postmaster, who had known him for a period of five years. He remained at the Halfway Bush from 3to 7 p.m., during which time he partook of one glass of ale. On leaving he was understood to proceed in the direction of his own home, although grave doubts are entertained if he actually went there. Nothing more is known of him until the following morning, when he was met by a shepherd named John Creighton in the vicinity of the place where' his dead body waa subsequently got. This place is situated about 15 miles from the Halfway Bush, and 13 from his home. Creighton was going out in search of a horse, and he walked in company with the deceased for about a mile and a quarter. In Huuter's demeanor nothing remarkable was observed^ and with Creighton he appeared to converse freely. He made some unimportant enquiries about the country, amongst others the distance to Switzers. Before parting, Creighton enquired the hour, and on referring to his watch deceased replied, 20 minutes to 10. About two hours afterwards Creighton returned, and when passing a small stream, known as No. 2 creek, his attention was arrested by the barking of a dog, which he recognised as one that had accompanied the deceased. Supposing Hunter to have i lain down, he called cut, but received no answer. On searching, he discovered him • lying with his head -partly in- the-«reek, ; and the lower part of .his body on the ibank. He looked at him, and being satisfied that he was dead, proceeded to the next shepherd's hut and gave the alarm. Assisted by the other, shepherd, the body .was. again examined, but; life being extinct, they deemed it prudent to allow it to remain as it had been found. Meantime a messenger was despatched tp -.I^XPTCS^Sm*- JIZ J?.k° m the.' E2!ice_ TJjrere apprised of the feet. On Monday, constable Tohey proceeded to the place, jand ; found the body., lying as- described. 1 On ' biping takeirpo's^es&ibii "of, 1 bounds

were fouud upon the throat, from which, on the body being taken out of the water, blood flowed freely. The place was examined carefully, but no evidences of a struggle could be discovered. No knife or other sharp instrument could be found, either upon the person of the deceased, or near the place where -his body was got. No traced of blood cduldbe seen either u pon the clothes" or on tKe-groand. The watch' in his possession had^stopped at a quarter to 12, and besides his purse, containing a small -flum-of money, the Crown grant to his property .was found upon him. At the inquest, which took place on Wednesday* Mr David Hunter, storekeeper, Invercargill, deposed that he was a brother of the deceased's. He had last seen him alive about two months ago, but could assign no reason whatever for his death. He knew of no circumstance that would lead him to believe death had resulted from suicide. .He made an examination of the letters and documents found in his house, but could find nothing to countenance such an opinion. His brother was a widower, aged 47, and had a family at home. He knew of no cause whatever to take him away in the direction in which lie was found, and he (witness) was perfectly sure he had no connection with Switzers. . The constable visited the house, and deposed to having found everything orderly. There were no signs of any fire having been recently burning, but .preparations to light one were found. The medical evidence proved that the immediate cause of death waft suffocation from drowning. The wounds upon the throat were only sufficient to produce weakness from loss of blood. They might have been self-inflicted. After deliberating, jfche jury returned an open verdict that the deceased was, found drowned, with four wounds in his throat, but how inflicted there was no evidence to show.