CORONER’S INQUEST

Taihape Daily Times, 8 September 1919, Page 4

CORONER’S INQUEST

A cox-oner.’s"illqllCSt .W3s held 011 Saturday, to inquire into the circum---stances surrounding the death of ‘William Bayes, who was found dead in a stable at Taihape on Saturday mornmg. .

! George Lord said he was a stablelkeepcr in Taihape. He knew deceased ‘and identified the body as that of William Bayes, who was a gardener at lErewhon ‘station. He last saw him [him alive on \VedneSday. At 8 am. on Saturday he saw deceased lying in the crush at his stables, face down‘wards on a. bale of straw with his feetresting on the bale. He thought fromhis position that "something was wrong, and hé called a. man named Vvallace. They turned the body over and found that Bayes was black in the‘ face and quite dead; he then gave information to the police. He had known Bayes for about four months, and when he came to town he was always more or less drunk. He coul-.1 not say if deceased was a married man_

H. Williams, a stableman in the employ of Messrs Lord and Sons, knew deceased slightly. Last saw him alive on Friday night about 7 o’clock; he was in the stable, and not sober, bui; not very drunk. Witness spoke to deceased, and told -him to keep out of the stable. Shortly afterwards he disappeared, and he did not“ know where ho went; that was the last witness saw of deceased. Bayes told witness he had been away for :1 holiday at Aucklafid. ‘

R. Stubbing, a. shepherd, knew the deceased, and saw him alive about 7 o’clock on Friday night, and was then under the influence od drink. Deceased fell down, but did not appear to fall seriously. He picked him up and took him down the street near the Gl'etl_la. Hall, and he. put him off the street just inside the gateway, and after about‘ ten minutes wftness went baelg. Hadpknown deceased about a. xzlonth ADr Sin_c_:lair stated he had madefa‘: post mortem on deceased, who wasfal"

man of ab_out_4o' ‘years of age, liealthbvl and well nourished; there being" no? external marks of violence. There was a. great_deal of lividity of the\face’_and neck and the upper part of the body. All the organs were absolutely healthy; the stomach Was empty," the brain was quite healthy, and there was no sign of hemorrhage inside the skull or in the brain. ‘After heaving the evidence of previous witnesses had nix. doubt death was due to asphyxiation. while in a state of alcoholism. Constable L. H]. Shannan deposed to finding t-he .‘Sod"y of deceased, and corroborated the evidence of previous‘ witnes'ses. There were no external marks of violence on the body. There: was 6/9 in the pockets of deceased. and a flask about one-qua.l-for full of whisky_ He last saw Bayes at 6.30 on Friday night, and he :lppoal'Cd te have had some liquor, but seemed to bequite capable of looking after himself_

The verdict of the Coroner was that deceased died from zxsphyxiation whilst in a stats: of intoxication.