THE INQUEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 September 1883, Page 2

THE INQUEST.

On the body being found, a telephonic message wa^ despatched to Waiorongomai to inform Mr Kenrick, District Coroner, who had proce ded thence, on Wednesday morning. On his return he ai ranged that the inquest should be held that evening at the Court-house, Te Aroha, at 4 o'clock. The following acted, as jurymen: — Robert Gr. Macky, Thomas Bradley, James Clarke, Alfred Ellis, Harold Bromfield, William Jeffries, John Coleman James Joseph Bennett, Daniel James Frazer, Daniel Redwood, Patrick Quinlan, Nicholas Clearly, Henry Smith and Robert Mackie. Mr R. G. Macky was chosen foreman, and the jury having bevn duly sworn, the following evidence was given : William Wilson, draper, of Te Aroha, called, stated that the body lying at the Robin Hood Hotel was that of his son, Cimrles William Wilson. His age vas fourteen years and a half. I last saw him alive about 5 o'clock on Tuesday evening, the 11th inst. He was then on horseback, having just returned from YVaiorongomai, and the horse being very dirty he said to me that he would go down to tlio river (the " Waihou") and wash his legs. He proceeded to do so, his younger brother, William, going down with him on foot. About a quarter of an hour afterwards the brother returned back and said that Charlie had sent him for ino, as he could not manage the horse ; the boy described to me that Charlie wanted to bring the horse back, but it got out of its depth and was swimming down the stream I ran down to the river and saw the horse under the high bank on the opposite side ; it had the saddle on. but I could see nothing of the boy. I went then into Morgan's paddock where a number of people were playing football, and got them to assist me to search for him. Wa obtained boats and searched until after dark. Some of the natives also dived for the body, but no trace of it was found that night. The body was found this morning. The deceased was a good swimmer, and had frequently been in the river on the same horse before. The body had a bruise on the foreheid and side of the head, and I think that finding the horse becoming unmanageable he nUfinjited to g»-t free and swim .whore. The next witness *>\uu.nod w.ts the little brother, William Wilson, apparently the sole witness of the onrly part of this tragic affair. He stated as follows : —I ma eight years of age, and yesterdty oveiling went flown to the river with my. brother Churiiu. He wiw riding the horse and 1 walked. Charlie, after the horse was in the water, leant over its biek and tried to get a drink. Upon this the horae commenced *' bucking,", and Charlie sung out to me to tell some one to fetch the bo««t. Charlie was leaning across the horde's back —across the saddle with his head over the side of the hor.-e ; the horse' was standing still then, and the water was not over the saddle. Charlie bt.hbed his head up and sung out to me about the boat, and I ran home. Charlie was trying to-^et the W,h up th- ,li. .;]< out. of the river again,' but -could not manage it, I

think, on account of the current. Charli* had taken one of his feet out of the* stirrup and put both feet on one side of the horse, one foot being *tV.] in the stirrup as he Unint across the, horse causing 1 it (thp one stirrup) to stick away out from the side of the horse. ""* ' "^ ' William Emerson, (Sergeant of Police) stationed at Te ArohaJ 'sworn, deposed : " I was seaivhintf tordayj&a* the body of Charles William Wilson at 'about a quarter past 10 o'clock, a.m. I [ was with four or five others in irboat'oti [ the *' Waihou * river about fifty yard* : belew the landing at Te Aroba. One of the men caught the body in the grappling irons we had with us. The body vya's taken to the Kobin Hood Hotel, and isth'e same b-jdy that the jury hiye viv-wepl today. The lips were a* little swollen and 1 a little blood coming from .them, but no | marks'of violence. The trousers wcr ), ,torn I but this was none with the grappling J irons. I found certain iirticles,(produei;d)! j in the pockets of deceased." This was all the evidunc > produced, and the verdict return :*\ by the jury was af follows :— " That the (\<\-s, i-wlVave to hiar death by accidcntMl drowninpr." The body w m convey ed to' the Thames by the p.b. P.itiki yesterday morning, .md the interment wa.H to tike place last owning at the P.iraw.ii Cenu-'tery. ' ' '