PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 October 1924, Page 6

PATEA.

(From Our Own Correspondent). . INQUEST. An inquest was liekl in the Courthouse on Monday afternoon touching the death of Mr K. W. Norris. Mr Hemingway, acting-coroner, presided. Mr A. T. Ciiri seen sen was chosen foreman of the jury. Mr Armour conducted : the case on behalf of the police, and called— ’ Guy William Corbett, who said he was a clerk residing in Patea, and just at present was camped at the Heads. About 8.20 o’clock on Sunday morning Mr W. White came to his wliare for the loan of a knife to cut- the rope off the legs of a dog that was found on the hank of the river at the Heads. Went with White to the river, and as the knife was not sharp enough to, cut the rope off the dog, went along to the guide pier to sharpen it up a bit. On the way to the pier saw the body of a man floating face downwards, with head pointing up stream; one arm seemed to. he caught in something; the body was stationary, though afloat. Called White’s attention to the body. Did not know whose body'it was untii it was turned over. Could not say whc. was the owner of the clog; it appeared to be in good condition, but its legs 'tore chaffed somewhat with the rone by which it had been bound. The bach is some distance from the beach. The body was fully clothed. Dr. Simmons said that he had examined the body of the deceased at the Hospital morgue, and recognised it as that of Ernest W. Norris. There wer. e no external marks of violence on the body, which had evidently been in the water for some tc-n or twelve days. So I'a.r as he could say, death was due to drowning. Had known deceased for a number of years. At one time he showed signs of suicidal tendency, but that was when he was suffering from' the effects of drink. Deceased had been an inmate of the hospital. I) . J. Gordon said he was a labourer, residing in Patea, and lived next- dour to the house lately occupied by deceased. Last saw the deceased on September 29, 1924 ; about 6.30 p.m., when he was standing in front of his gate. He appeared to lie in good health at the time, but a few days previously seemed to be drinking heavily. Deceased bad never complained to witness. Had no idea to whom the dog belonged. Deceased had no clog. Constable Armour said that about 9 o’clock on Sunday morning it was reported to him that the body of a man had been washed ashore at the mouth of the Patea River. Went down to the heads and found the body floating to and fro near the guide pier, face downwards. When the body was turned over lie recognised it as that of E. W. Norris, brickmaker, of Patea. The bodj r was fully clothed. Had it removed to the hospital, morgue, and on searching it found 2s 6d and some jewellery in a wallet. The body appeared to have been in the water for about ten days. Did not find any marks of violence on tile body. Knew deceased as a quiet reserved man and a steady drinker. He was a. single man, about 40 years of age, and lived alone.

No further evidence was called, and the jury returned a verdict “That the deceased, Ernest William Norris, was found drowned at the Patea Heads on Sunday, October 12, 1924, though how he came to he drowned there is no evidence to show.”