A MIDHIRST MYSTERY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 30 September 1916, Page 3

A MIDHIRST MYSTERY.

FOUND IN THE RIVER. An inquest was held at the Magistrate's Court, Stratford, yesterday concerning the death of frdencK Trebes, laborer, whose body was found in the Te Popo stream, Midhirst, on Sunday last. A jury of s«x, with Mr C. Jackson as foreman, wad empanelled, and Mr C. D. Solo was Acting-Coroner. In addition to the evidence taken nt the first enquiry, the following information was elicited: DISCLOSED BY THE POSTMORTEM. David Steven, medical superintendent of the Stratford Hospital, stated in evidence that in the Course of a post-mortem on the decease--], he i'outid a slight punctured wound ovei "the bone of the left side of the pelvis. The bone, more .especially on the left side, was fractured and in several pieces. The fifth, sixth and seventh ribs on the left side of the body were also fractured. He found signs' of incompetence in one of the valves of the heart, also signs of slight hemorrhage in the spleen. From the appearance of the fractures of the hones he was of opinion that the fractures occurred immediate'y before death and that they were the cause of death. There were no signs of alcohol in the stomach. Sergeant Dale: \Coiild the -injury such as you describe have been inflicted supposing deceased bad fallen over 30ft from a bridge:-'-Yes, they c> dd have been caused by a fall from that distance on to stone. Any other marks of violence?No. Any injury to the head?—No. Was there anything to indicate that the deceased had been in any scuffle or dragged along the street? \o. The body was fairly clear of slight abrasions. The chief injuries were internal? —Yes; -■• The Acting-Coroner: Would a man suffering from chronic alcoholism be disposed to suicide ?—Yes, he might be. Was the body generally that of i\\ well nourished man?—Yes, and otherwise in fair health. "'•'.'.:

A MATE OF DECEASED. ..Charles. Swadling, laborer, Taurakawa, said he,knew deceased, they being engaged'together bush falling for Tlmmas Codkin for.three months, and had .completed, .their contract of b'i acres at- $Zs --ikkper .. acre,, settling about a fortnight, ago immediately before proceeding to. Stratford. Both lie/ and deceased .each received £l7 5s by cheque as equal shares. Deceased did not pay any money away in;the district and they came to Stratford together.; ' ... Sergeant Dale: Was deceased with you when you cashed your cheque? No; he came to the bank soon after. What drink did you have?—One or two beers. Where was this?—T honestly say / could not ted you where we went. Who did the shouting?—T could not' say who bought Hire most. We

' had several drinks in several hotels - gave them all a turn. Later on in the evening witness, ! Barrouclough and deceased went to Midhirst, when witness was "slightly drunk." Asked by Sergeant Dale how he went to Midhirst, witness replied Trebes ordered a car and they went together staying at the hotel all night. j Do you know the color of the car': No, I did not take any notice. 1 suppose you were thirsty againr --Yes. Sergeant Dale: How was the deceased ?—My mate was in fair trim. but could walk around. How much money did you get ri<; of in Stratford?-Well over £4O. I do not know how much exactly as J did not keep any account. What did the deceased spend?— I do not know. Do you know Mr Parsons?—No. this is the first time I have been af Midhirst since he was there. Witness admitted he was often drunk and did not know it—he did not remember anything after being at the hotel. . • J How many drinks had you?—l can 'not say for certain, but no doubt I had many drinks. Who paid?—We paid in turns. What time did you go to bed?—! do not know. I do not remembei anything. Do you remember what money you spent that night?—No, Ido not remember. . . . - .Where did you t find -yourself next morning?—At the hotel in bed. is ,it..a fact that you. laid on the I floor in the taproom so drunk that you .could not get up—laid under the table?- .it might happen and i i would not know. I Where was the deceased next morning?—l cannot say, I cannot remem-ber-when we met. - How long were you at Midhirst?— II cannot say for-certain. How long do you think you wee there? —Perhaps three days. J Were you sober ?—Sometimes drunk laud sometimes sober. I When did you- realise your .money was.going?—The -first ralisation of il I was when we left Midhirst and went I to Toko. 5 Did you** go- to Stratford?—No. I During the throe days we were at * Midhirst I did not visit Stratford, i but deceased did. .. •■

Who went with you to Toko?—Deceased and Thomas Barraclough, and Parsons drove. Where did you stay? —At the-Toko Hotel- , ' Had you any chinks when "' you arrived?—Yes', . Were you sober?—No I'm Mowed if I was sober. Did you remain at Toko that, night? —Yes with deceased. ' Did you «shout"?—"Yes, there was the ' same - plan here. We shouted for one another, and made everyone welcome— my mind is clear on that it was a turn with him and my males." i stayed at the hotel that night and -left next.day. Where did you go then?—The three of us left for Douglas- we all walked. \

What "cargo" did you take?— l took a bottle of. whisky, Barraclough took two bottles, and Trebes bad nothing. - • What condition was deceased in.?

|i ( > was a little bit quiet-jolly and sober. Deceased was easiest the sober of the three. Barraclough was more drunk than any of them. At Douglas we got a gig and the three of us drove back to the camp. What became of the three bottles of whisky?-We drank it all. Did you get through it that nigiic? —No there was a wee bit left for the morning. How much money had you?— When nt God kin's next morning I only had 12s out of £l7 ss. How did you find that out?—"I wanted a smoke and then realised how f was financially. 1 had 12s and two lbs of tobacco." Did you buy any boots?—No. 1 could not afford that, I had spent the whole of it in drink. When did you see deceased last?Ho came into my room where wn were staying and asked if there was any drjnk about, i said "yes. ■> ,sinall drop in a bottle." Did he say anything about his money?—No: that was the last he said to me." Witness said deceased went back to his farm and stayed a day, and next morning disappeared. Have you any idea what deceased spent?—l never took any notice. I never said anything to him about his money.

Did you ever notice any peculiarity about deceased?—Yes, there was a softness about the man—he would often come home and complain ol headaches. He used often to say a man would be better dead. He ha«i funny little ways about him. When did you hear of his death?— The day before yesterday. The Coroner: What is your age?--Thirty-five.

Sergeant Dale: Have you made an application for your certificate of enrolment?—Yes. ABSOUTELY BROKE. Thomas Barraclough, of Turakawa, gave evidence and said he was employed by the Stratford Council an I knew deceased, heft home last Wednesday fortnight (13th September) and came to Stratford with deceased arid Swadling. ' Witness had £lO in money. Swadling went to the bank to cash his cheque ami deceased did so later. They had several drinks together. They left for Midhirst about seven or eight o'clock. Witness and deceased both had lemon and squash at the Midhirst Hotel. He remained at the Midhirst Hotel from Wednesday night for six days until the following Tuesday morning when he went to Toko. How was your money when you left for camp I was "absolutelv broke.".,- >■

What did you spend your money on? -Mostly drink.

Did you put' your name down for enrolment?—! am enlisting to-day.

LEFT A LEMON SQUASH

James Parsons, proprietor of tha Midhirst llofel," said deceased arrived .on Wednesday about a fortnight ago in -a- niotor-car- from Stratford and was sober. - Deceased -remained as.,a ledger"-up to the . following Tuesday. On Friday the 22nd, deceased- rang him up .-from Toko asking him to convey him - back to Midhirst and be did so. He - seem -A strange in his manner on Saturday morning.-- • - Did he m«ke any reference to taking his dife?-No. " 'Witness saw; him at 30 o'clock on Saturday -night 'when he asked '.or *i lemon squash,- but be did not drink it. As witness's wife was closing deceased rushed out saying "The police are after me."

Sergeant Dale: Did he take off his coat? No.

Witness said he walked along the road afterwards but.did not see anything of deceased. He reported the matter, to. police on Sunday morning that deceased was missing.

A juryman: Did he say why tha police were after him?—Yes, on account of the war.

The Foreman: Was deceased quite sober?—Yes; quite sober.

UNDER THE. BR11KM:

Harold Hamblyu, aged 16, of Micihirst said that he found the body of (U-eascd lying under the To Popo bridge at Midhirst and told the police. Witness knew it was the body of deceased as he had know him two years. A day or two previously he looked as if he had been drinking. Constable Robertson who .recovered the bo.lv of deceased from Te Popo stream Midhirst, said it was l.vmg in a pool face upwards- there was a lot of rough boulders at the place where the body was found. There was no coat'.mi the body, and in a pocket oi the trousers was 3s in money, a knife, tobacco, and a box of matches. This corn-hided the evidence. The Ac'tino-Coroner, in briefly reviewing "the facts, said it was clea. I.;, 0 - bad been "no foul play. ~-,,„ j nrv returned the following l . - t li t: "That the deceased was r „„„.l ( >a"d i'.nd'er the Te Pep ' bridge al ■-.}■ ]' ' "-!-, but thnt was no evidence to p-o-.e low he met bis death."