INQUEST AT EKETAHUNA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3603, 4 September 1890, Page 2

INQUEST AT EKETAHUNA.

(From Our Own Correspondent,) An inquest on the bod/ .of Isaac Priest was: held at-Eketahuna on Monday, September M, before Mr P. Von Bedin, J.P., and a jury of six, of whom Mr .D. Toojjill was cUqseqforeman, 1 ' ' ' "":' Tho witness qalled was/I).:,H ( Roberts, for ft|r Joqes, who deposed that deceased-purchased some goods at. the store on Jul/ 18th, and left with bis|ack ! tiore i 3 for his home at the back of Farkrille at quarter past four; , ]fo was in his usual health, .Y'};N "' ->

By the police: Hbpurcbasod gooda to the | valulS of ISs J 10d. When ho ; left an'in'ten'tioriio'f- going home.;'. ' t(l. ,' 'Emma Murrell deposed; that she lired with her parent at ParkvilleW Recollected meeting priest, tk-,\tff. . paslftar py&the-iVidiy. p'reriitfs tothoisearch for : him v she MW J his hOrsO and he said rt .'6obaday^'<,and,,passed on.'Was'inside^fher'tfwn ( .«ta 'a| ■;t .) th'e'time. 'Tfio/'distance the r}ye£Mid; guartey';.'.,. fjiJmanuobPriost. A*(iVn, * deceased was his'Vbjth% t-^wt?', saw •; him . on," the iuly, " when,' he went for stores,' Recognised tha(; of his br^.tilsoitheihat; 1 , ■ watch apd purse, Misted- him on vOd that tfia'j i horae going by the cinipialone; t. Saff the'f'ourandbtH'erThingjiniHe'-.bank:' rifer on not see bis brother againl|illjSuMy last, .wjjenjhe Baw him floating face down%ds!in thoocaek qloso to where tbg I flour]was found. Did not think: thjs oWw lja'4" any 'enemies ']iT thV. distrilt, ,/: 7 mm:M , Joljn Jacobsen,, sottler, deposed." that he recognised the Isaac Priest.'- Found the body in the .' -i»«ivpn Saw.the • body ibroughV ;w':§|JSs!»! ; M bouse; i^;.:; ■■■!,: ■-]«> -/.kttmj-Z P BrMcLennandeposed,thatbflwii ''o' a duly qußh|ed medical praclitionej} /<■§, exalikeb! the' Übdy -foand) np''^iaK^B.|;pf^*^i^moo'^9|;^y" ' ; *. kind about hioC ture oi the skull or other ludiiatlpM'.'' ;■;■ /..■:

of death except by drowning. The' , . bod; was greatly decomposed, The lungs would .give no .indications of drowning, Ho had no hesitation in saying' that tho cause of death was • drowning.! > : Constable Booho deposed that ho recognised the body as that of Isaac U*. Priesti' On 20th July it was roporti d to him that deoeasd was missing ami supposod to have been drowned in tlio Doep Oreok, He had searched for tho body on that day and several otliere without success, except that on tho 22nd July be saw his hat. taken out of tho river, Know Whero the ' accused vosidod, It would bo necessary where lid Has lust Been alivei to c'ro&s tho river to got to his residence. ,Heshouldaayifrom where Miss Murrel , saw him to the jivcr the distanco would bo a quarter of a tnilo. Searched tlio body last JAt niqht and found tho hat, watch and purse, the latter containing the sum ofills7d, There wero also somo papers in pulp and a knife, Tho name of the creek was Ngatakaka, . A vordiot of accidentally drowned on 15th July was returned by tho jury. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. The remains of the deceased, who was a member of tho Oddfellows Lodge of Eketahuna, werofollowed to tho cemetery by the menibors of the '. fraternity in mourning regalia. Servico W : on the part of tho Oddfellows was read by Mr Carter. Church service at ,the grave was conducted by Mr W'Bayliss, Mr Whitehead, of Wellington, also spoke a few words as to'the Christian character of deceased, Who was liked by every one with whom he had como in contact. , ' Service Was conducted in the Wes* leyan Ohurdh in.the evening by Mr • Whitehead, who delivered an impresgive sermon on the hereafter to a larsp congregation. A metndrial servico will bo held in •4pi ; ' the cliuroh on Sunday next,