STILL A MYSTERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 11

STILL A MYSTERY

SKELETON FOUND AT PUKEKOHE (From, Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Today. Mystery still surrounds tlie Identity o£ a skeleton of a man found on Taylor Bros.’ farm at Patumalxoe on January 21. The adjourned coronial inquiry was resumed before Mr. C. K. Lawrie, J.P., today. The finding of the skeleton while cutting rushes In a swampy area of ground on the farm was described by Amos Woolsey, who said he observed a boot protruding from a clump of long grass. The police were notified. There did not appear to be any recognisable signs of violence, but, from the disposition of his clothing, deceased appeared to have been suffering some kind of abdominal pains, stated Dr. James McWhirter. His height was about sft Bin. An examination of the skull showed that the hair practically bald. Two teeth were misswas brown, turning to grey. He was ing from the upper denture, and there were seven natural teeth in the lower jaw, which had a partial denture. The man’s age was between 45 and 50. Constable C. Powell testified to having from a small bottle near the right foot of the skeleton. An analysis revealed that it contained poison. The waistcoat was pulled up in a manner which suggested severe abdominal pains. Exhaustive inquiries were made with a view to establishing identification. Vendors of poison in the district were questioned without success. A verdict that the death of the unknown man was probably caused by poison taken from the bottle found near the body, no evidence showing how it had been taken or how long the man had been dead, was returned.