DR. PIGEON’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 27, 27 October 1926, Page 10

DR. PIGEON’S DEATH

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DROWNING

The story of two companions who went out for a day’s fishing together, but who were sadly separated was told in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday during au inquest conducted by the Coroner (Mr. J. 11. Salmon, S.M.), into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Walter Hugh Pigeon, a well-known Wellington medical practitioner, who was found drowned in the Moore’s Valley stream -last Thursday.

John B. Richardson Parker, brothe’r-in-law of deceased identified the body. Captain William Dalrymple Johnson, a retired army ollicer, said he went to Wainui-o-Mata with deceased on .October 21 for the purpose of having a day’s fishing. Witness .fished down stream, while the doctor concentrated his attention up stream. After witness had finished fishing he watted until 5 p.m. for his companion to return, but as he did not do so a certain anxiety for his safety arose, with the result that a search party was organised. At 9 p.iu. word came to the effect that the body’ of deceased had been discovered. On the trip out to Wainui-o-Mata the doctor seemed to be in the best , of health. He chatted gaily all the time and passed no remark ’regarding any ill-health at all.

Francis Twomey said that with others he searched along the riverbank for Dr. Pigeon. When near Moore’s Valley the body was found lying in about two feet of water with the head down.. Witness who took the body, out of the water noticed it to be quite cold and stiff. Deceased, who was fully clothed appeared to have been dead some time. He was in heavy boots and wearing a cap and spectacles. Witness added that there were fairly deep pools about the locality where the body was found. A fair current was running at the time. Parker recalled, stated that lie had visited the locality since the tragedy and examined the place were the body was found. On a bank nearbv , about sft. high he discovered a ’footprint which lie thought had been made by the deceased in attempting to climb up the bank. He also observed marks indicating that someone had ’slid down the bank.

To the Coroner, he said that anyone falling down the bank mentioned would drop into a pool of water about 7ft. deep. Constable Frost, of Lower Hutt, gave evidence to the effect that he brought the body to the morgue He had viewed the scene of the fatality, and could corroborate the evidence of the previous witness regarding the incidence of pools in the stream. Anyone falling into the Moore's Valley stream at that point would have been washed down to the spot where the body was found. Dr. P. P. Lynch’ pathologist at the Wellington Public Hospital, Stated he conducted a post-mortem examination on the body. Tn his opinion death was due to drowing. The body was one of a verv healthy man. Air.' F. E. Ward (for the Commercial Union Insurance Company): Could you sav whether Dr. Pigeon, was liable to seizures, or anything of that kind ?—- “No, there was no evidence of any organic disease at all.” Tlie Coroner: You think it was a simple case of drowning then.—-“ Yes, I do.” The Coroner found that deceased met his death by drowning at the place mentioned on October 21. In his opinion the evidence pointed to the conclusion that the deceased slipped from the bank and fell into a deep pool of water from which he could not manage to extricate himself.