LATE STEWART SERGEANT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 81, 26 March 1914, Page 3

LATE STEWART SERGEANT

The Te Puke Times of 17 th March says:—On Sunday morning tha —F It was on Sunday morning that the first intimation came through to Te Puke that Mr Stewart Serjeant had been found dead on his farm at To Hatai, shot through the breast. Tho news created quite a shock, for on Friday night Mr Serjeant attended tho usual practice of the Presbyterian Church choir, when he expressed his intention of being present at the funeral of the late Mr Kerr on the following day. The circumstances surrounding the tragedy are as follows ;—On Friday night Mr Lonsdale Elliott accompanied Mr Sergeant home and slept at his residence. Mr Soigeaut, it might be mentioned, being a widower and living alone. At about 10.80 the following morning Mr Elliott left the farm, having arranged to meet Mr Sergeant at 1.30 in Te Puke. The latter then appeared to bo in his usual health and spirits. He did not attend the funeral as arranged. Mr Elliott returned to the farm at about • 9.30 the same evening, and, not finding Mr Sergeant at home, conjectured that he had gone to Pongakawa to visit his daughter, Mrs C. Riddell, and thereupon went to iest. -I • the morning, -bin host not having returned, Mr Elliott went to get in the cows, when he was horrified to see his friend lying apparently dead at the edge of a maize plot, the gun a short distance away. The body was resting on its left side just inside a three wire fence. The gun was lying on the ground, underneath the fence and half-way .through. Tlie fatal mishap had evidently recurred a number of hours previously, probably early, on Saturday. At,the inquest evidence was given by Mr Elliott bearing out the particulars published.i above, the witness also stating that, the deceased was in the habit of taking his gun with him when'be went-to work, and this state, ment was corroborated by Messrs Duncan and Webber, neighbouring farmers.

.Dr. Young also gave evidence that, in his opinion, judging from the nature of the wound, death was the result of an accident. The Coroner returned an open verdict.! ’

Tim remains of the late Mr Sergeant were interred in the Te Puke Cemetery on Monday morning, in. the presence of a large number of friends, the funeral service being conducted by the Rev. A. C. Wedderspoon, of Taimuiga, assisted by Mr Climie.