BIG RIVER TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1935, Page 2

BIG RIVER TRAGEDY

INQUEST AND VERDICT.

[OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.]

REEFTON, May 31.

The adjourned inquest into the circumstances of the death of Michael Burns, at Big River, was continued at the Court House, Reefton, to-day, before Mr. W. B. Auld, J.P., as Coroner.

penry Colvin said that on Saturday, May 25, at about 4.30 p.m., he was at the boardinghouse at Big River, where he met the deceased. They had a conversation, and deceased moved in the direction of his hut. He was sober. That was the last witness saw of him alive. About 10.30 on Sunday morning, ho visited Burns’s hut and found no sign of deceased. Two men and Witness found the body of Burns lying in a small creek at the foot of the road over a bank. Burns had been dead some hours. Witness had known deceased about 25 years, and tor h to last twelve months he. had been failirig in health. Burns told witness on more than one occasion of having giddy turns and bleeding from the nose. The body was found within 100 yards of deceased’s hut. They found marks on the bank as if Burns had fallen over head first. The body was removed to the hut, and they communicated with the police. Witness considered the happening was an accident, as deceased had safely crossed a narrow foot-bridge. Edward W. Jones, licensee of the Big River Hotel, said that he conducted the accommodation house at Big River. He had known Burns for over 25 years. Deceased was a miner’s phthisis pensioner. On Saturday afternoon deceased was in the hotel about 4 p.m. When he left at about 4.30 he was sober. Witness knew deceased had been subject to giddy turns and had haemorrhages, and during the last twelve months had failed in health. Witness was not present when the body was found, but knew the place. As far as he knew, Burns was single and a native of Australia.

The Coroner found that Michael Burns came to his death from injuries received when he fell over a bank at Big River on Saturday, May 25.