SAD CASE OF DROWNING AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 911, 31 January 1882, Page 3

SAD CASE OF DROWNING AT GERALDINE.

On Friday last Arthur Hallam aged 24 years, met with his death under very distressing circumstances. It appears that he was missed about had-past seven, and on search being made in the neighborhood bis body was found in the river-bed. An inquest was held on Saturday, at Mr Muff s Crown Hotel, Geraldine, before B. VVopl’combe E-q., Acting Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr D. McKenzie was foreman. Jesse Davis deposed that bo was the father of the deceased, that the last time ire saw him alive was about 6.45 on Friday, that ho was missed about 7.30 and that he did not see him again alive. He saw him af’erwards dead in Mr Cook’s arms, Edith Stringer deposed that she wa ; nurse to Mrs Davis, that she saw the body of toe child in the water and that Mr Cook went into the river and. brought the body out. R. S Cook deposed to the finding, of the body in shadow water. The child probibly had fallen in the deep part of the river and had been carried down. He could not state positively that the face was covered with water. Dr Fish deposed that he was called in about 840 p m. and arrived as soo n as possible. The usual means of restoring life were resorted to but were of no avail. He believed that the cause of death was suffocation from drowning. The jury returned a. verdict of “Found Drowned” and added a rider to the effect that the land should be fenced in.