THE MARTINBOROUGH TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4925, 14 January 1895, Page 3

THE MARTINBOROUGH TRAGEDY.

THE INQUEST,

(From Our Own Correspondent), The inquest touching the death of Maggie Mason, who was found dmwnedjust abovo the Waikenga Bridge on Saturday morning, took place at the Club Hotel, Martinborough on Saturday evening, before tho District Coroner, Mr T. Hutchison, and the following jury:—Messrs W. H. Speakman, G. Croot, C. KontJohnston, 11. Gillies, W. Winchester, Jas. Green. Mr Speakman was chosen foreman. The first witness called was Johu M. Hoss, who deposed to having met the deceased on Friday evening near the bank of the river, betwoon the old road and the present main road. He spoke to her and she answered him. He asked her why she had not got her young man with her, and she said she did not want him that evening. Witness was with a man named McDonald. They both thought it strange that she should he there alone, She seemed very oxcited. The next witness called was Mrs A. McLeod, in whose service the deceased was domestic servant Mrs McLeod deposed to having seen the deceased go out that evening. Some time earlier in the evening she had reprimanded her for having told her «lid was going home when she left for a week's holiday on New Year's Day and she had gone to Wellington instead. About half past ten in the evening she went up, to shut tho window in the deceased's room and was not surprised that she was not home, as she heard that she had been seen going towards herparouts' homo atKaiwaiwai, When she got into the room, she saw a letter on deceased's bed addressed" To the o»e that finds it, To Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, from Maggie." I The letter produced was as follows;

Friday, "Dear Father, Mother, Sisters asi!> Brothers.—JuHt a few lines to lot yon know where I am, and what I have done. You have been very good to me, and no one but myself knows it. Mother, you know 1 told you that I thought my head was

going wrong, and that I was going fit silly. So it has come to that at last, !y You will all know what I have done, aud you will never find out where I got the money. It was given to me. There is one far away that has been as deopas I have, but do not think it is Dear Fred, because it is not, and God helping me to say it, was not stolen, as Mrs McLeod thinks, and I am not married as the people say, and someone else can provo that; aud one that is a good Christian and would not think of doing such a thing. I will now say good-bye to all and hoping everyone will forgive me. Tou will find mo in the rivor by Lowrio's. Dear Mother, do not think there is any wrong with me; you know the way I mean. Thank God, if I had stayed here the next twenty years, that would nevor have happened. But 1 have deceived Mrs McLeod by tolling stories, and you all by not telling you all the truth, Let Lizzie have my watch, and tell her never to part with it. I will say good-byo now. I will not meet you bye-and- . by, because you will all go to a betL, ter placo than I will," •*T Witness read the letter and sent it to Constable Bowden. The next witness called was Dr Bey who deposed that ho had examined the deceased and he attributed her death to asphyxia from being submerged in the water. He stated that he was able to 6ay she was not pregnant, This latter part of thedoctor's evidence has given great satisfaction as : some cruel reports havo been circu- • lated with regard to the deceased's condition. The inquest was hero adjourned until to-day (Monday) at one o'clock,