INQUEST.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 59, 21 November 1896, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Thursday, at the Police Station, Hamilton West, before Mr T. If. While, Coroner, to inquire into the drowning of Mrs Ellen McCain. The following were sworn a jury : Messrs Edwin White, W. C. Castleton, P. McMahon, W. Andrew, T. H. Hill and H. Hollow-ay, the last named was elected foreman.

W. C MeCann deposed : I am a son of the deceased. I helped Constable lireiman in finding the body viewed in the Waikato River, which 1 recognised as that of my mother. Deceased was 74 years of age. Last saw her alive at half-past two in the afternoon of Tuesday, Kith inst., at her home in Cambridge. She had been laid up the previous week. She appeared to be changed in her manner, and wandered in her Statement*. She suffered from weakening tits. I left on Tuesday for Ckoroire, and when I returned on Thursday my mother was missing. I made every search and inquiry amongst my relations and friends, but gained no information. On Wednesday, ISth November, I found the body in the Waikato River, caught in the branches of a tree. Never heard her speak of doing away with herself, but have heard ot her saying when in trouble that she would sooner be dead than alive.

E. J. Lowther, a boy of 14 years of age, deposed : Deceased was my grandmother. Was living in the same house with her. She left about half-past seven on Wednesday night. 1 walked with her as far as Laney's coiner. Sue said she was going to Mrs Brindle's.her daughter, and told me to go and stay at Mis If union's for the night, and go to Mrs Ibindle's in the morning. 1 didn't notice any thing peculiar alxeit my grandmother when 1 left her. Latterly she had been ill. She said funny things, one that she was read'ng hoiks, and someone was going to take her hack to London and kill her. She talked many times like this.

W. G. McCann (re-called): When I returned on Thursday I looked lor my mother in the different rooms. I found two bundles of clothing addressed respectively to Mrs Brindle and Mrs John McCann, in my mother's hand writing. There were several other bundle- not addressed. William Breuuan, Constable stationed at Cambridge, deposed to finding the body as stated by prc v ious witness, George McCann. The Jury returned a verdict "That deceased was found drowned in the Waikato River, and there is no evidence to show how the body got into the water.''