INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR BARKER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 572, 20 January 1876, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR BARKER.

The Inquoit was bold at the Royal Mail Hotel, NgaruawnltU on Monday lait, ,Wfore W N Searancke, Esq., Coroner, and a Jl/T7 of twelve ; Mr T Mabin, chairman. The principal witness wai Mr W T Laing, who identified the body by the general appearance of the olothet, ai tho features wero greatly disfigured in consequence of the time the body was in tho water. He also handed in the following letter :—: — Copy of Barker's letter. (written in pencil. ) , Dear L , I have put an end to an existence which was usoleu to me and ererjono. People will «*j I am mad ; well perhaps I am. God purhapi will forgive me. While people aay what they like, I am truly sorry that this takes place, because you, dear old L , aro the only one I caro a bit for in the whole world. Break it gently to my sister, hor addreis is Miss Barkor, 0 W F Barker, 3 Crossly Square, Bishopgatc Street, Hoe id Bareib. London. Af er sereral of the Jury had compared it with other writing! of the deceased, they were perfectly satisfied of the authorship of it. Mr Laing then pave the following evidence, " Bar* ker went to Alexandra on the Ist January, returning 00 (he Brd. Ho had been drinking*

I saw him next morning, and he seemed rather low spirited, but not more than on other occasions under similar circumstance. I was away at Humillon all day (Tuesday) till about fire. Ho then seemed as usual — me'anclioly. I had no dispute with him. I had always treated him m a friend. There wna no doubt bufc he wo Buffering from the effects of orink. lie was always happy when he stopped on the farm. I ounnot identify the ropa that is tied round him ; I recognise the knife, sheath, and belt. I believe the chain that u round the neck to he one of ui> leading trace chains. 1 went to Mr Glasan's, where I found deceased's letter, and then caught my horse and went to Alexandra, aud mf jrmotl the po ice. I think, the story of the dog watching the body hai no foundation. Bar er hid no dog ; I hava one but it was oa the farm. I identify the coat and hat produc d, they weie fust seen by Mr Glmin who did not touch them. They were afterwards taken away by some natives passing in a canoe, but the polioe who c»d« with me from Alexandra recovered them. The spot where Mr Glassin found them wm about hall-a-mile from my house on the W»ipa liver. Wo afterwards dragged for the body with grapnels, but could not find it. William Moore and C. Biiir the« gave evidence as to the finding of th* body a»d making it fast, also having reported tke matter m Ngaruawuhia. The Coroaer summed up, and the Jury returned a rerdict that tie ace Bai ker drowned himself while in a state of temporary insanity, (CoftItESPONDBNr ) —