DROWNING FATALITY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 441, 24 May 1937, Page 4

DROWNING FATALITY

DEATH OF CHILD Evidence At Inquest An inquest into the death of Ed. 1 ward Percy Griffiths, infant son of Mr P. A. Griffiths, carrier, Toko, was concluded at the Stratford Police Station this afternoon, the Coroner, Mr W. L. Kennedy, J.P., finding that the child was accidentally drowned at Toko on May 20, no blame being attachable to anyone. The Coroner and Constable W. Hughes, representing the police, expressed sympathy with the relatives. GeO Weir, larm labourer, of Toko, | said he was- informed by his sister, Mrs Griffifflths, that the boy w»as missing. He made a search of Griffiths’ premises, but could find no trace of >the .child. When he got to the home of deceased a side gate leading from Griffiths’ section out on to an empty section adjoining, was open. On making a search he noticed a child’s foot marks 'at the edge of the creek. He- got a drag and .Commenced to drag the creek for deceased. When dragging operations failed he walked along the bank of the creek for about a mile and found the body of the deceased floating in a back-wash just under the top of the water. When recovered the body at about 2 p.m. no effort was made to restore life as he was satisfied that the boy was dead. When Dr. Gordon examined the body he stated that deceased had been dead too long to en_ r.ble resuscitation to be effective. Witness had never known o-f deceased ever being near or playing near the creek.