DROWNED IN WATER-HOLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 290, 8 December 1925, Page 8

DROWNED IN WATER-HOLE.

SUICIDE AT SILVERDALE. ABMS AND LEGS TIED WITH FLAX. Suicide by drowning was the verdict returned this morning by the coroner (Mr. F. K. Hunt), S.M.) at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of John McKcoun Austin, a single man, aged 28, who was found drowned yesterday morning in a water-hole in a lonely spot about two miles from His home at Whitehills, Silverdale. , Edward" Joseph Austin, a gumdigger, of Whitehills, Silverdae, of the deceased, stated that on Sunday night his father told him that his brother had not been home. It was too dark then to go out and look, for Him. At 4 a.m. yesterday witness went out to search, and at 11 a.m. found the body in a deep water-hole about two miles from the house. It was a lonely place. Witness and another brother got tho body out. The legs were tied together with flax, and his arms were fastened behind him in two slip-knots. Deceased had been drinking on Friday night,, and witness found him on Saturday morning wandering about, sparsely clothed. He was near the creek then, and was not in his right mind. Constable W. G. Wood, of Takapuna, stated that at about 11.15 a.m. yesterday he was told that dceeased had been missing from his home since midday on Sunday. Witnesa went to Whitehills, where deceased's brothey told him that the body had been recovered. Witness found the body beside the hole, about 2J- miles from the main road. It appeared that death had.taken place 12 or 16 hours previously.