OPEN VERDICT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 182, 4 August 1933, Page 12

OPEN VERDICT.

DROWNING OF YOUTH. INQUEST WITHOUT BODY. CORONER'S COMMENTS. The inquest concerning the death of Edwin Henry Hav.kins, aged 19, of Birkenhead, who disappeared following the overturning of a punt in which he and John Blackburn Anderson were rowing in Auckland harbour on May 29, was concluded yesterday afternoon by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Detective-Sergeant P. J. Doyle appeared for the police, and Mr. J. J. Sullivan watched the proceedings on behalf of Anderson. The following is a Bummary of the evidence published in yesterday's final edition of the "Star." Frederick Henry Hawkins, brother of deceased, said he telephoned Anderson on May 30. Anderson told him that if he wanted to know anything about deceased, to go to Ms place. The telephone was then cut off from his end. Coutte Munn Walker, of Birkenhead, said he spoke to Anderson on May 30, and said that Hawkins' parents wanted to know what had happened. Anderson described the accident fully to witness, and said that two men met him when he reached the rocks at Bayswater. The finding of the punt at Stanley Point on May 30 at 12.30 p.m. was related by Frederick Egerton Wilson, of .Stanley Point. He said the punt was right side up and had an oar in it. He was satisfied by the appearance of the punt that it had not been overturned. George Day Davison, of Northcote, eaid Anderson spoke ,to him on June 1, in Ocean View Road, Northcote. Asked if there was any word of Hawkins, Anderson said there was not, and added that he would never be seen again. When witness said Hawkins would probably come to light somewhere, Anderson made a similar reply. Witness asked if the police had seen Anderson, who said the police had taken a 12-page statement from him. They would want that for the inquest, said witness. Anderson replied that there would be no inquest and that decea-sed would not be Been again.

Interviews with Police. Interviews with Anderson were detailed by Detective A. G. McWhirter. On ■June 19, Anderson was seen by Detec-tive-Sergeant Doyle, Detective Murch and witness. He said he was quite sure lie had seen the two oars float away when the punt overturned. They told him that one of the oars had been found in the punt, and the punt had been found right eide up. He then eaid he was not sure about the oar, but he remembered seeing one of the oars with the rowlock on it, float away. They told Mm they had learned that he had not been helped up Bayswater embankment by two men. He said he might have been mistaken about the two men, but if he was it was an honest mistake. Witness said Anderson's mother then arrived at the Birkenhead police station and she was informed of the position out of hearing of Anderson. She told her son to epeak the truth. Anderson said, "They have insinuated I murdered Ted, and I am not going to alter my statement, which is true, every word of it." Mrs. Anderson then.said, "It's a pack of lies from beginning to end, and if you have any respect for the truth, you will tell the detectives the truth. If you only know they are your friends. They only want the truth- about what happened and don't want you to exaggerate.".

Witness said Anderson then hesitated and said, "All ,right, I will tell them the truth—give me a pencil and paper." Anderson then commenced his story .and covered everything from the day he and Hawkins went to Coromandel until he saw Miss Craig on May 29. The, only variations >he made in his previous statements were' that his previous story about dragging for mussels and-getting the mussels was untrue. He ■ said tjiey had got no mussels, .-.' Mr. Hunt.:.. The story he told you is the story he told here to-day?-—Yes. This concluded the evidence, and. Mr. Hawkins, father of ' the deceased, when asked by. the coroner if. he, wanted any further inquiries made,.said he did riot.' He said lie-wanted to thank/;the police and detectives for the maner-in ■ which they had done their duty. Coroner's Verdict. After returning a verdict of death by drowning, Mr. Hunt said the case was a inoet extraordinary one. "How the boat, as described by Anderson, could be floating upside down and.-,then be found 24 Lours later right side up-1 can't understand," said the coroner. "In other words, this is an open verdict. The police seem to have taken a great deal of trouble over this case."

Turning to Detective McWhirter, the coroner said: "You seem to have made a great many inquiries over a long period." The detective replied that he had continued his inquiries until Saturday last. Mr. J. J. Sullivan, who had been watching the ease on behalf of Anderson, said he appreciated the manner in which the police had presented the case. "A Square Deal." Anderson stood up and said: "I would like to thank the police for a square deal." Mr. Hunt: Oh, would you? Perhaps you could explain to me how that punt was found right side up. STATEMENT'REFUTED. Mr. Hawkins, sen., father of the missing boy, refutes a statement made by Anderson to Detective McWhirter that his son drank a good deal. Mr. Hawkins said his son was a strictly sober boy.