THE LATE DROWNING CASE AT NGARUAWAHIA. The Inquest.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1276, 2 September 1880, Page 2

THE LATE DROWNING CASE A T NGARUAWAHIA . The Inquest.

An inquest was held before B. C. Beale, Esq., Coroner, at the Royal Mail Hotel, Ngaruawahia, ) esterday, on the body of George Barker, who met his death by drowning. A, jury was empannelled, of which Mr E. Fitzpatrick was chosen foreman. William Anderson Crombie, sworn, deposed : I am an aocouutant. On the night of Monday, August 9th, I remember seeing deceased at the Delta Hotel, about halr-pa^t 9 o'clock, with t\\ o men named Co mi or and Williams. They stopped about half- an -hour, and 1 had some drinks. I w ould not be sure whether it WcVs brandy or whisky. They were on • friendly terms. lam not aware of any dispute between them. Deceased was what you would call lively, but otherwise sober and able to take care of himself. Ho had no more than two drinks at the Delta Hotel. The other men were in a similar state when they left the hotel together at 10 o'clock. By the Coroner : They had two kits and a bag of meat, and they said they were going home. It was about a mile to Mr Kath bone's, the "place where they were at work. By the Foreman : Connor had one shilling's worth of whisky. They did not leave the house the worse for liquor. Alfred Williams, sworu> stated : I am a cooper. I have known the deceased for nearly seven years. I remember the 9th ot August. I met Barker in Ngaruawahia about 9 o'clock p.m. at the Royal Mail Hotel. We had two drinks each." We went to the Delta Hotel and had two more drinks, and left there about 10 o'clock. Barker took his kit and left for home, and that was the last I saw of him. Dan Connor was m our company, but he went back to the hotel for sonic liquor for the morning. They were fit to go across the river. Barker went lhst and Connor followed after some minutes. Birker had four drinks m my company. He had no overcoat on. Connor was not quite sober. Daniel Connor, sworn, deposed : I am a carpenter, and have known Barker for two weeks at Rathbone'b job across the Waipa. On the night ot the 9th August we came into Ngaruawahia to purchase some food and called at the Royal Mail Hotel, where we had &c\eial dii'iks. We then went to Johnson's, and afterwards to the Delta Hotel, and had mort, drinks. Deceased then lett, but I got two glasses of brandy for the morning. On retaining I found deceased had gone and followed him. When I arrived at the nver deceased was in the canoe about four yards from the bank. I asked him to bring it to the bank. He said, "All right." I got into the canoe, and as> I got in he fell out. I called out to him but got no reply. I fancied I heard him paddling in the water. I jumped m, but could not find him. I then came ashore and went to Booth's, and told them what had occurred. I got a change of clothes | and then informed the police. i John O'Neill, brickmaker, deposed that he kne*v the deceased, and remember the 9th August. Connor came to Booth's about 11.30 p.m., and told u& that deceased was drowned. I took the boat acioss the river and called Rathbone, who returned with me. We went down the river to find the canoe, but were unsuccessful. I have always found the canoe safe, The watch produced belonged to deceased, John Haddock, constable stationed at Ngarnawahia, deposed that Walter Nellie l'eportod that he found deceased in the Waipa, and he (Haddock) bi ought the bod\ to wheic it now lies. His clothes were' not torn, and there were no marks ,of \ lolence on the body. I Eouml on deceased a one^ound note, 25s in silver, a knife, pipe, gold watch, silver albert chain, etc. The watch stopped at t\veuty minutes pa^t 1 1. The jury returned the following verdict :: — '• That tliG deceased < George Barker was accidentally drowned from a canoe on the 9fch7 August, 1880."