MYSTERIOUS DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1932, Page 11

MYSTERIOUS DEATH

HISTORYjC^'^E VICTIM

■.■'■' ;,'.' .(By Telegraph.)'- :v/; . (Special to,"The Evening Post.'') ■•'■•;■ PALMERSTOK Nj'iliis Day!. ;! .A-: new view- of , : the• circumstances surrounding tho death of Samuel Derini-; son (or Deriniston), iged^/whose body; was found- in the Manawatu Biver hear' tho. ritzherbert bridgo, on Sunday, is f provided by tho fact that his. wrists; were tied with string and Tiis legs with; wire when he was recovered from. the: water. This new factor v appears to discount the theory'that tho old man's death was accidental, and while it does; not dispose of ' tho suggestion1 that hoi committed', suicide, leaves: room ,fpr doubt as*r^o^'Svficthc^'tt«V^':-was--L'fpur ;P lay-..'.,.; i!' \'-:;-:':\! .!-'v:i v ! ;y":; ; :.;.-'i 1 Inquiries made by a -WPbst?' repre-! sentative indicate that the deceased l\ad: no fixed place of abode, but had ro-: sided for a number of; years around Palmerston .North ..and Dannevirko.- -'•.•He! was of t a cheeriul disposition,-;and: thetheory of suicide is ridiculed by- those: who knew, hini well. \ .... , . The' identity, of the body. was definitely established"iy.esterday by.;Senior-i Sergeant : liart]^,.: b£ r DanrieyirKe,:.. who visited Palnierston North for that purpose. It is -about"'"a; yc~ar~ since the"; deceased,was last seen.in DannevirkeJ Since.then he has, been- working in the vicinity of Palmerston North. • Sketchy details of his career were given by the ilatoTMirDennisoii-Uo Mrs. W. H. Smithy of Boundary road, by whom ho was; employed for several months recently., :,/■. He .y/as for many years a resident Vf:)fnver6argill,; jyhere he was- engaged as a: gardener. /Acting in medical.'advice^: ieV came North, and :for, a. period- stayed•:\vith a^fi-ieiid'-'in ■^pi? 1- ■: ;S? suffered au-.injury; ; to- his; shoulder, '.. arid,on his .recovery..was engulfed in the earthquake last year. His! friend was among-the first to be killed' bytho- catastropho inVNfapiciV >E« was then apparently, stranded, -and camo to■Palmerston North, .wheroihe obtained iCasnal employment. ' ■ ■ . ■ .• , ' X»eccased stated that his'parents ''died1 while ho was a child-arid ho was passed: into tho caro of Bishop Selwyn, at Aucklarid, at the age of two years,' by the captain of : a vessel.- According to' his-narrative ho wasireared by BishopSelwyn with the lattcr's children, and accpnipanied the Bishop in the;. Southern Cross on a -trip to the South Sea Islands. "He was destined and prepared for tho Church, but in'the- end did not take.the vows.- .. .-. ■ m..: '■■/■ ■■.: .; .:■ ■/ "It. is inconceivable that this old' getttloman should co'mniit suicide,'' said Mrs. -Smith. ;»He was' ■ always cheery and- talkative, and despite) his age took a keen and. kindly interest in life.- Ho wa.s . deypted: to- yottng: xliildren 'arid aninials.,;W.heu he;. lef tfriy"employ- early in Becemher. I. gave him; sonio ■ riionby .andv;elQthes^-and^.^lre->spoko---.iiriW''efteHt-optimism .-of■ tho. ■futufe.'-'-"':"''- ■■ ■•'-- '-"■■•'