HUIROA TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1920, Page 3

HUIROA TRAGEDY.

DEATH OP A FARMER'S WIFE. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST, (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Jan. 22. An inquest concerning the death oi Ellen Jane Ford, aged 36, who was found dead in a creek at Huiroa, yesterday, was held to-day, before Mr. C. D. Sole, Acting-Coroner, and a jury consisting of:—Messrs R. D. Lewers, F. Weston, H. Edgecombe, A. Moon, W, H. Robinson, and J. H. Bumester. Mr, Robertson was chosen foreman.

George Ford, husband of deceased, said he was a farmer, residing at Huiroa. He denied that he and his wife had not lived happily together. Last Monday they went to Toko together. Mrs. Ford left'him there, and went to Stratford. She did not take liquor to excess. She wasN sober when she left him at Toko. He followed her to Stratford, and on going to the National Bank he found that she had forged a cheque in his name for £3O. Subsequently he found his wife in Stratford. She seemed all right, and he did not think she was under the influence of liquor. Subsequently lie i tried to get her to go home, and failed, j She returned £23 of the money obtained on the forged cheque to the bank.

To the Coroner: His wife had had a drink of port wine at Toko, and he had a small drink of beer. His wife returned by car to her home at about 10 p.m. She was then sober, and, as far as witness knew, brought no liquor home. - There were two bottles of draught beer in the house, but his wife never touched . beer. He forgave his wife for what had occurred during the day, and they had no words.' On Wednesday witness got up at 5 a.m., lit the fire, and then got the cows in. His wife was up when lie returned with the cows, and had a cup of tea ready. At about 7.40 witness left for the factory. Before leaving, his wife asked him to get some butter and bread. She was then in the best of health. She had never a# any time made any threat to take her own life. It was not customary for his wife to bring water from the creek, this work being done by witness. The creek was about fifteen yards from the cow byre, and the track was very rough. Witness returned from the factory at about 9 o'clock. He called to his wife, who, he thought was in the house, and, obtaining no answer, went inside. Failing to find her, he inquired from the children, and was told that she could not be found. He went to the cow byre, and found parts of the milking machine she had been washing. He called out, and got no answer. He then saw a kerosene j tin upside down at the place from whicli the water was usually obtained. After I searching, he saw the body lying on the bottom of the creek. He pulled the body out, and found it to be lifeless. Just then Mr. Rutherford passed along the road, and came to the assistance of wit- j neas. The body was about three chains from where the bucket had been left. The water was about four feet deep. If deceased was all right she would be safe in taking water from t.he creek. There were plenty of weeds, by means of which she could have saved herself after falling in. He did not examine the side of the creek where 'deceased had fallen in. He had not known h : s wife to have a fit, but he had known her to walk in her sleep. About a month ago she had ' walked through a window while sleep- I ing. She had once complained about. her heart. Up to about three weeks ago she had appeared to be a strong, healthy woman. "TROUBLE IN STRATFORD." To the Coroner: He had had a good deal of trouble with his wife in Stratford on Monday, and he had endeavored to lift her into the gig so that he might take her home. He could give no reason for her refusal to go home, unless it was on account of the cheque, but he had told her he had forgiven her for that. He did not think that fear of a prosecution had preyed on her mind. She had left home on two previous occasions. The police found her once at Onehunga. To the foreman: He could not account for his wife leaving homo on the occasions mentioned. His wife was not denied any money she required by him. To the Coroner: If it was said that, the relations between him and his wife were strained, the statement was not true. Dr. Steven said he had attended de- j ceased for several years. He was called. out to see her yesterday, but having been told that the woman was quite dead he did not go, explaining that there would be no use in doing ho. On examination he found two slight bruises about the size of, a two shilling piece on the upper part "of-the right arm. There were three small bruises just above the knee cap, and two other slight bruises on the left leg. These bruises were the result of injuries received some time before death. They were not serious at all. There was a slight laceration of the right car and also a slight laceration on the front of the chin. It was impossible to say whether these were inflicted before or after death. The post mortem lividity of the face and neck was well defined. The air passages were full of fine blood and stained froth. The lungs and the right aide of the heart were ingorged with blood. These were the signs that one would expect to find in a case of death drowning. The rest of the organs- appeared to be quite healthy. In his opinion the : cause of deatfi -was drowning.

THE verdict. To the foreman: Deceased may have taken a fit before she fell in. He could not say, but she had breathed after falling into the *ater. She was a welldeveloped woman, and capable of assisting herself. There was nothing to suggest that she had had a fit. Mary Ford, aged 10, daughter of deceased, stated that she saw her father leave for the factory. After this her mother sent her to the house to do the dishes. Her mother did not return to the house and witness did not see her again. Witness did not take a glass to her mother and diid not see her take one out of the house. Arthur Rutherford, farmer at Huiroa, gave evidence about the recovery of the body. He considered that any healthy person who feil into the creek should be able to get out. The creek was very narrow, and it would be easy to reach the grass on either side. Sergt. Dale described the finding of the body. A glass (produced) was lying close to the buckets. It smelt very strongly of whisky. He saw no further signs of liquor about the premises. Relauding the womftn't condition on Una-.

day evening he was satisfied that the unfortunate woman was under the influence of liquor, but not so much as to justify interference by the police. Ford did not abuse his wife but kept his temper remarkably well, doing his best to get her away from the public gaze. Later in the evening the woman was reported to him to be under the influence of liquor. A verdict of found drowned was recorded, there being no evidence to show how the deceased got into the water.