WOMAN DROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 68, 21 March 1934, Page 9

WOMAN DROWNED.

SLIPPED DOWN BANK.

BAY OF PLENTY TRAGEDY. "ACCIDENT," SAYS CORONER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, this day. An inquest was. held before Mr. F. J. Short, coroner, yesterday concerning the death of Edna Helen Boon, wife of the headmaster of the Waioeka School. Mrs. Boon was drowned in the Waioeka River on Sunday, February 25.

Detective-Sergeant McLeod conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police, and Mr. E. C. East represented Miss D. M. Crolcer.

"£he principal witness, E. A. Boon, husband of the dead woman, said in evidence that he had been married for 3J years. Miss Croker relieved his wife as tcaclier for three months last year. His wife invited Miss Croker to stay with them during the school jubilee celebrations. On Sunday morning both went for a walk, and later he was told that his wife had fallen into the river.

After asking Miss Croker why she did not save his wife, witness said ho went to the scene of the tragedy. He was unable to say -whether Miss Croker's clothes were wet or dry. There had never been any quarrel between Miss Croker and his wife to his knowledge. His wife had been subject to dizzy turns since last Christmas.

.In reply to a question witness said he had accompanied Miss Croker on walks, sometimes with his wife and sometimes alone, at Mrs. Boon's suggestion. Kicking Stones Into River. Miss Croker said she was on x good terms with the Bo|>ns. While staying with them she frequently went for walks and swims with Mr. and Mrs, Boon, and sometimes alone' with Mr. Boon. Mrs. Boon never raised any objection to their going out together. Mrs. Boon had invited witness to stay with her and Mr. Boon during the school jubilee. On the Sunday of the tragedy witness and. Mrs. Boon went for a walk together. They reached a bluff about a mile up the river, and after resting they commenced to return. They started kicking stones into the river over a high bank, continued wit : ness, and Mrs. Boon the bank into the river. Witness rushed along the bank and jrot into, the river. She got hold of Mrs. Boon, but was unable to get her oat of the water as she had dislocated her shoulder and sprained an ankle in fretting down the bank to help. She then went to the pa to call help. Her arm had slipped out of joint on several previous occasions. Exhaustive Police Inquiry. Dick Wehi gave evidence that when told by Miss Croker that Mrs. Boon was in the river he and Mr. Black drove to the bluff and saw the body thirty feet from the bank. He dived in and secured the body. His efforts at resuscitation failed. t Evidence was given by other witnesses who lived with • the Boons that Miss Croker was on good terms with them. Dr. Candy said he examined Miss. Croker and found abnormal mobility I of tho shoulder. The joint' could be semi-dislocated easily. _ Detective McLeod said he visited the scene of the accident and conducted an exhaustive investigation. In spite of searching inquiries he was unable to obtain anything that would contradict the evidence that the death of Mrs. Boon was due to othef than accidental causes. - Mr. East, solicitor for Miss Croker, said the tragedy was one of the saddest which had occurred in the district for many years. The coroner said . the circumstances had been meticulously investigated by the police. From the evidence he was satisfied that Mrs. Boon met her death accidentally by drowning, no blame being attachable tp anyone.