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INQUEST THIS DAY.

The Body found in the Kauaeranga. • An inqiiest ?qn the body of the man found drowned in the Kauaeranga was held to-day at the Court-house, Shortland, before Dr Kilgour (Coroner) and a jury of 12, of whom Mr Jefferson was chosen foreman. Mr Bullen conducted .the"'case, and called-?- Vvy '[■■■:,. ■'' .\ .-.V It. Hansen, of Waikawau, who deposed to recognising the bodyf of deceased by his clothes and boots as, one-George Tavernor, whom he had known and been working with in the bush fbr the past 10 weeks. Witness last saw^deceased about three weeks ago, when he left to look for work in Grahamstown.. He believed deceased came from Staffordshire. Edward Joseph Anderton deposed—l am a solicitor residing.onJihjeJJCauaeranga. On Sunday last while walking, I saw an object in the river which on close inspection proved to be the body of a man. Where I saw the body is I believe four or five miles from the usual crosiing. There is a ford close to where the body was found; about 50.yards from it. There are in fact several.places where: you can cross, but they are off the track. The water where I saw the body was about three or four feet deep. The upper portion of the body was floating, the feet were on the grpund. There are a good many holes'about the place. I told my neighbour, Mr Stevens, to inform the police., I,.saw Constable Stapleton take the bodyout on the following Monday morning. The body is the one now in the dead-house. I don't know whether I ever saw deceased or not. The face was disfigured; I cannot say whether by violence or not. I can't say what caused the disfigurement; I fancy by the body dragging against the sand and gravel at the bottom of the creek.

By a juror: It would not be dangerous ibr_a_persQa.Lta.:crqss_thjß__rivex_janles3_ there was a fresh in it.

John Brown, before he was sworn, objected to give evidence unless his wages were paid. The Coroner informed him that he had no funds at his disposal to give payment, or to order it to be made.

Brown declined most positively to give evidence unless ho was paid, and on being told that he would be punished, said " they might do as they liked," but he would hot be sworn.

The Coroner told him it was foolish to talk in that way ; he must give evidence. It was a hard case as he had lost two days' work. He would do what he could for him, but could not promise him anything. If he persisted in refusing to do so, he would be obliged to do as he was compelled by law, and send him to gaol. A juror here offered to subscribe to pay the expenses of Brown. The Coroner informed him he could not allow that at present,, whatever he might do afterwards. :

Mr Bullen called the next witness-— David Ballingall who deposed: —I am a packer for Mr Munro on the Kauaeranga. To the best of my-belief I sawdeceased in the dry bed of the creek about 2 miles above Munro's store. I was accompanied at the time by a man named Pope. I passed the man 12 or 15 feet from deceased, who was down upon his knees with his hands .held up in the air. ,1 did not hear whether he said anything or not. After we had gone a little way, Pope went back to him, but deceased would not ..speak to Pope, or come away with him. We couldn't stop, as the horses, who were laden, were going on, and it was a very dangerous road. We came to the store that day, and up the river again the next day. " I never saw the man after. .Where I saw^the man is about five or six miles above the booms. I do not recollect having seen him at any'other time. ■ By the Coroner: When I saw the man in this singular attitude, I thought he was drunk..

By the Foreman: When Pope, was speaking.to the man, he still kept in the same attitude; : By a juror: He had no necessity to cross the creek at all at that place. I did not consider it a dangerous place where he was. There have been no freshes in the river since we saw him.

f John Brown was again called, and spoken to by the Coroner, and ultimately listened to the advice, and being duly sworn, deposed—l am a laborer residing on the Kauaeranga, about 7 miles from here. I have, seen the body of deceased this morning. ■ I recognise the body by the beard and trowsers, as that of a young man who went from Shortland in company with two more about the first of the month. I and thY .three men agreed to work together and started from Sihortland. We stopped (four of us, at Munro's that night. The next day the three men went up about six miles further up the river and returned next day to Munro's. They; ;then.agreed to go to work inJthe^bush.; Deceased and another man started to go: towards the booms next 'day. This was on Wednesday, November 3rd. The man who came along with him was Stewart Crawford. I have seen neither of them since. Deceased looked as if he had been drinking very hard before the time, in

fact he appeared like a man who was half in the "horrors." During the time he was in my company I do not think deceased was in his right mind. Stewart Crawford was as sober as a judge. By the Coroner.: Deceased did not drink much w]}ile under my observation. By a juror': Deceased waa icpmipg towards Bhortland when he left me.!, @| I - Constable JR. Stapleton, being sworn, : said —I went to the Kauaeranga CJreekv yesterdaj£,>t' «, place indicated by/Mr Anderton. I found a body the subject of this inquest. The body was lying face downwards, the (ace down stream, the feet touching the -ground. I ■• took the; body out. I did not make any examina•tion of the body then. I examined it here in the dead-house. The face was disfigured. No bones were! broken. The marks on the face were such as might have been caused by coming into contact with stones, &c. I searched the body, but found nothing on it. Edward Louis, being sworn, said—J am a constable at Shortland. I have examined the body which* is the subject of this inquest. I could not say whether it is the body of George Tavernor. I have heard it at this inquest identified by the clothing. I have known George Tavernor for the last eight years; his habits were intemperate. I have known him suffer—being to a certain extent out of his mind —for two or three days after, drinking y and on these occasions usedttd begiiilty of wilful and foolish acts, arid coiafinedito his quarters. It is quite possible that the body is that of Tavernor, and yet that I should not know it.

By the Foreman—l first knew Taver- j nerin 1868, but from 1871 to.last year. I didn't see him. He was, I think, about 28 years, but of a very young appearance. The Coroner said that this was all the evidence, and he thought it was as complete as could be; they had traced the man from his journey to Shqrtland, ami had had evidence as to Ms state of, mind both before and at the time. *'. Some of the jurors wished to have the evidence of Stewart Crawford. The Coroner pointed out that not very much would probably be elicited as deceased was last seen after he had parted company with him by the witness Ballingall. The jury then without retiring returned a verdict of " Found drowned.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18751116.2.11

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2143, 16 November 1875, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,301

INQUEST THIS DAY. Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2143, 16 November 1875, Page 2

INQUEST THIS DAY. Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2143, 16 November 1875, Page 2

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