FOUND DROWNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 948, 15 April 1930, Page 10

FOUND DROWNED

STOREKEEPER’S DEATH EVIDENCE AT INQUEST -From Uur Own Correaiiondcnt DARGAVILLE, Monday. The inquest concerning the death of Rodney Bernard Shannon, formerly a storekeeper of Te Kopurtt, whose body was found on the river bank at Newton’s Island on Friday night, was opened before Mr. J. A. McLean, district coroner, on Saturday. Kvidence of identification was given by deceased’s wife, Isabel Shannon Michael Walpole, of Te Kopuru and 1> rederick Cutler, of Whakatane. Antonio Pitoni, a l’arm-hand employed by Newton Bros., at Tui-iwiri said he found the body high up on the rivet-bank at the lower end of Newton’s Island. Mrs. Shannon’s evidence was to the effect that her husband had taken over a grqfery business at Te Kopuru six weeks ago. The business had not been as successful us it might have been. On March Ir, her husband had cut his wrist badly, and since that time had been very quiet. (in the March 27 her husband had left for Auckland, telling her that he was going to do some business. The next day witness received a wire telling her that he would be home on Sunday, March 30. Witness had not seen hint since, bu* had heard that’ he left Helensville on the boat on tin- night (if March 2S, and arrived at Te lvopuru at 3.15 a.m. on the morning of March 29. Witness stated that her husband had never suggested that he might take his life. The inquest was then adjourned until Monday. When the inquest was resumed today, Thomas Sellars, master of the steamer Wairau, stated that Shannon was among the passengers on the A\ airau on March 2S. The mate asked witness to call Shannon about 15 minutes before the vessel arrived at Te Kopuru, which he did. at 3.15 a.m. Two other passengers for Aratapu were lulled at the same time, shannon and the two Arutapu passengers got off the boat. Shannon got off the boat first, and walked along the wharf out of witness’s sight. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased was found drov. ta d and there "os no evidence to show how he got into the water.