METHVEN FATALITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9212, 5 February 1918, Page 4

METHVEN FATALITY.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST.

An inquest; into the circumstances surrounding the death of David Henry Home was held at the Courthouse, lVlethven, yesterday, before", Mr William Morgan, Acting-Coroner, and^O--jury. Mr Dart appeared for the iJ^B^ oives. iWm^^ Elizabeth Home,' wife of deceiMedj stated that her husband left home after dinner on Saturday to go bowling. She was noc anxious at'his nonarrival for tea, as she thought he might have stayed out to tea- and for the cvcniug. Although worried, . she went to bed about 11, still thinking^ he might come.in. Having gone to bed, and having, a child to look after, she was too nervous to get up. She did not sleep, and early on Sunday morning went across the road and told Mr Owen that her husband had not come home. She knew that her husband had been subject to epileptic fits for many years. , „-- ."William Joseph Owen, clerk in the employ of Messrs. Dalgety and Co., said that he was playing bowls with Home on Saturday afternoon. They left ..the grounds together about 5.45 p.m., but deceased leftivwitness, and, he walked ' on;; The ' swimming ; vbatir > Jfcdjoined the bowling green. Early next morning' Mrs Home called . and said that her husband had- not - been home. Alter making some inquiries in the township, witness went to the Domain, where ho saw deceased in the water. He informed the police, and assisted in the removal of the body.

Alexander C. Stewart gave evidence that after Mr Owen had found the body and left to inform the police, witness secured the body and brought it to the bank. Witness also stated ' that on Saturday, about 7 p.m., .he was looking over the fence from the bowline green into the pool, and saw some object in the water. He attached no importance to the incident at the time, but he now thought it nmat have been deceased whom he Baw.. ,'" "- „; - r Dr Wilftam Todd, practising l»t ,;■ Methven, • depbsed that ho had exaflfrj' \ ined the body of deceased and foundV;" no marks of violence. The lips -and teeth were firmly set and the hands c^ewohed, as was usual in epileptic seizures. Death occurred from drowning whilst in an, epileptic fit. The witness added that in cases of long standing the subject would have some warning of the approaching fit. Alexander Home, bJrother iof deceased, gave formal evidence of identification. He added that deceased had been subject to-fits- lor some years. When he felt a lit approaching he always had an inclination to get water to bathe 5 his hands and face. Constable Moore gave formal evidence. ; . A verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned whilst .in an epileptic fit/. , '.:■. .'■