FOUND DROWNED.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1922, Page 5

FOUND DROWNED.

A MARRIED MAN’S END. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. The inquest concerning the death of Fred Kirk, of Pungarehu, whose body was found in a tributary of the Waiongona stream, about three miles north of Inglewood, on Wednesday night, was held yesterday. Mr. J. R. Sutherland, J.P., acting coroner, presided, and the jurors were: C. Croosman (foreman), AH. Fraser. H. Heal, R. Lett and T. L. Parkin. Evidence of identification was given bv Mrs. M. Kirk, wife of the deceased. She stated that her husband was 42 years of age. He had been working on the contract he was engaged in at the time of his death since the beginning of April last, and had frequently visited his home at Mangorei for week-ends. The last occasion was Saturday last, when he appeared, to be in good health. He had complained of suffering from headaches during the last two years, saying they were very bad and accompanied by noises in the head. There were five children by the marriage. Other evidence was given by E. Mawson and Cecil Clague, who had worked on the contract for deceased, as to his apparently good health until latterly, when he had complained of suffering severely, and unaccountably, from headaches. * They last saw deceased about 5 p-m. on Wednesday evening. Later, becoming alarmed at his continued absence from the camp, they instituted a search and found the body.

The jury brought in a verdict that deceased met his death by drowning himself whilst temporarily of unsound mind.