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BODY FOUND.

The body of a woman, supposed to be Mrs Carruthers, was found on Tuesday, between 11 and 12 a.m., on the beach about half way between the rivers Warieta and Waimangaroa, by Messrs J. C. Reid and Lewis Sweet, on their way in from the Mokihinui, They noticed an unusual object some little distance from high water mark, and on turning off the track to inspect it, found the body of a female in a very decomposed state. The hair was dishevelled, the eyes gone, and the flesh from the face torn away, and the upper clothing missing, the .body being clothed in boots, stockings, and underclothing, and having on the second finger of the left hand a gold wedding ring. Messrs Reid and Sweet did not touch the body on account of its fearfully decomposed state, but they piled round about it logs, gathered from the beach, to protect it from the next tide, and hastened into town to report the circumstance. Mr Carruthers, on hearing of the discovery at once sent out a conveyance and shell to bring in the remains. An inquest was held at the Miner's Rest Hotel on the body found on the beach on Tuesday. George Carruthers: Had seen the body, which he identified as that of the body of Marianne Louise Carruthers, his late wife. The last time witness saw her alive was on the lGth July, at his house during dinner time. At 4 o'clock the same day, on returning home, he found the house shut up. He then went to Mr Labatt's, and found deceased in bed the worse for liquor. Witness told her if she did not get up and come home at once, she need not come at all. This was the last time he saw her alive. Deceased had been the worse for liquor while at home that same day, and was in the habit of getting drunk. She used to get in a muddled condition at home. Witness produced a letter received from her on the 18th July, which had been brought up by Labatts' little boy about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. On receiving it witness supposed she intended to go to Melbourne by the schooner Janet Frith. A few days before she had said that she knew Captain Stevens, master of the craft. Witness did not think she contemplated suicide. She had on former occasions when in drink used threats of drowning or poisoning herself. On the evening of Saturday the 18th, in consequence of a message from Mrs Labatt's, witness went there and found deceased had gone away. The next morning the hat, shawl, and umbrella produced were found on the river bank at the foot of Cobden street, the things being, as witness believed, the property of deceased. Witness then gave evidence as to finding the body ,on the beach, and identifying it by the clothing and by peculiarities of the feet and legs. The features were not identifiable.

E. A. Labatt, on oath, said he knew the deceased, and had seen her last alive on Saturday, the 18th July. Between the hours of six and seven o'clock iu the evening she bad left his house with the intention, as witness supposed, of going home. She had been there from four o'clock on Thursday preceding. On coming in she had complained of being poorly, and had gone to bed, and had taken some gruel. On Saturday she walked on the beach with the daughter of witness, had dined afterwards, and seemed quite well. There was not the slightest appearance in her manner of making away with herself. Witness did not notice the slightest sign of liquor on her whilst she was at his house. Identified the shawl produced as one lent deceased by wife of witness.

To a Juror : Deceased had not been drinking whilst staying at house of witness.

Mary M'Connell, wife of John Burns M'Connell, said the deceased bad been at her house, in Wharf street, on the evening of Saturday, the 18th July, staying there about half an bour. She said she had left Mr Carruthers, and asked leave to stop with witness. Having no accommodation, witness advised her to go home. She went away, but came back again until a shower bad passed, and then went away with a son of witness. There was nothing peculiar in her manner, except that she seemed fretted. There was no sign of drink on her. She had part of a pint of beer with witness. Hugh Burns M'Connell, son of last witness, left his mother's house with Mrs Carruthers, at half-past seven on the evening of the 18th July. When going out of the house Mrs Carruthers bid all in the house good-bye, and said to witness " Good-bye, Hughie, you will not see me any more, I am going away for good." Witness said, " Where to." She said, "I'm going to drown myself." As she went out she told witness she had left Mr Carruthers, and asked witness to take a parasol to Mr Labatt's. Witness refused. When she came into the house the second time she was crying, and had a little dog in her lap. Afterwards •witness went out with her to show her the road. He went half way to Cobden street with her, and she then said she was going the beach way. Witness advised her not to go for fear she would tumble into the ditches. She said " It does not matter, I am going to drown myself." Witness told her not to be foolish, and she said " Oh, I havo made up my mind for hours." When in Cobden street, she said " That will do Hughie, I can see where I am to go now." Witness left her, but in looking round saw her I

walk down to the edge of the bank where the shawl was afterwards found. That was the last ho saw of her. She did not then appear the worse for liquor. Jno. Edward Martin, son of Jno. Martin: On the evening of the IStli July was lighting the lamp over his father's door and heard some one scream. Went down to the river bank and saw some one in the water. Witness supposed it to be a man. The person was then some little distance from the bank and floating towards the groin where there is an eddy. Witness immediately told his father, who with other men ran out and made search without success. Witness heard the scream twice. John Campbell Reid : Yesterday was travelling on the beach from Mokihinui, and between Waimangaroa and Warieta, he and his companion Lewis Sweet, found the body below high water mark. It was much decomposed especially about the head and neck. The verdict recorded was " That deceased drowned herself whilst in a state of temporary insanity."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740807.2.19

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1200, 7 August 1874, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,144

BODY FOUND. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1200, 7 August 1874, Page 4

BODY FOUND. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1200, 7 August 1874, Page 4

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