OPEN VERDICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1938, Page 4

OPEN VERDICT

DEATH OF LATE MR CURLEY. INQUEST CONCLUDED THIS MORNING. The inquest concerning the death of Patrick Joseph Curley, whose body was recovered from the Waipoua River at Akura on November 12 was concluded this morning before the District Coroner, Mr E. G. Eton. Hector Rudolph Allen said Curley had rented a whare on his property in Kibblewhite Road, where he had lived alone. He last saw him alive at about 10 a.m. on November 3. He then appeared to be in his usual disposition. He was a very quiet man. Witness said he was talking to Curley on that occasion for a few minutes. The latter had said nothing to indicate that he intended to commit suicide. Witness had known him for the past five years and never at any time had he mentioned having had any worries. He was comfortably off financially. After witness returned from Palmerston North on November 7, he did not see Curley about and began to wonder where he was. That evening he saw his bicycle standing by the bridge at Akura. That was unusual, as he usually kept his' bicycle in the stables. The next day witness' said he made inquiries with the result that Curley was found to be missing. Constable C. H. Reardon gave evidence as to the'' finding of the body which was wedged under the roots of a tree in the Waipoua River, in several feet of water. The appearance of the body, was consistent with deceased having met his death by drowning. Inquiries showed that Curley had not been in the best of health of late; otherwise there appeared to be no reason whatever why he should wish to take his life. He might have accidentally fallen into the water while the river was in flood. Had he done so, in view of the fact that he was a nonswimmer, he would have had little chance of making his way to safety As far at witness could 'ascertain, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the deceased.

The Coroner returned an open verdict to the effect that Curley had. been found drowned and that there was no evidence to show how he came to be in the water. Mr Eton complimented the police on their activities in searching for the body, which was a task of an arduous nature. The late Mr Curley was a man of quiet habits, and was well known and respected and his death was very much regretted.