INQUEST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1087, 28 September 1869, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Exchange Hotel, Havelock, on Friday last, 24th Sept., before Thos. Hitchings, Esq., coroner, and a jury (Mr. John Garry, foreman) on a body found in the Ngaruroro river, near Maraekakaho, on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The following evidence was adduced :-— Thomas Atkinson, sworn, deposed — I am a laborer, living at Maraekakaho. I identify deceased as a man that came to the accommodation house at Maraekakaho at about half-past four on the afternoon of July 31. He stayed there about quarter of an hour, enquiring for Col. Whitmore's out whore. He was walking, and as the rivers were very high, I advised him not to attempt to go. I went away, and in about a quarter of an hour returned and found him gone. I have no doubt as to his identity. He appeared sober, but asked for grog ; but there was none. I had seen him before about nine months ago. He was a laboring man. I don't know his name. He told me he had belonged, or did belong, to the 18th Royal Irish ; this was at Carlyon's station. He left after working for a few days, without asking for payment. He appeared dull and in low spirits. Richard Monypenny, sworn, deposed : —I am in the employ of Mr. Duff on the Olrig Station. I identify deceased as a traveller who called at our place on or about the last Saturday in July last. He came about 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., and asked for Mr. Duff and accommodation for the night. I asked him where he was from. He said he had come from Mr. Hunter's, Porangahau, where he had received a cheque for £25 and 15s in silver. I did not see any money on him. He had his supper in the kitchen with the other men. His manner was that of a man who had been drinking for some time— only at times appearing to know what he said or did. After supper he called the shepherd out, and told him he was a deserter from the 18th Regiment. He soon returned, and sat by the fire for about an hour. He then went out, saying nothing. As he did not return, I after a time went and looked after him ; but did not find him, and have not seen him since. He left his swag at our place ; it consisted of shirts, trowsers and tobacco. A pair of boots was found the next day about a mile off on a line of fence which leads to the river. The latter was very high at the time. He did not say where he intended foingto, but said he should make back for •orangahau. He had no grog at our place. Our station is about five miles from the accommodation house. , John Clarke, sworn, deposed— l am living at Mr. M'Lean's station. On Wednesday last, Sept. 22, 1 was keeping close to the river bank, when I observed 1 something on the river bed which I took ' for a log at first, but on closer inspection proved to be the body of a human being. The body was perfectly naked, and very , much decomposed. I immediately re- | . : turned to the station, and represented the fact to Mr. M'Lean. All hands turned ' out and went out to the spot. None of 1 us could identify him. The color of his ' hair, which was light brown and curly, ; proved him to be a white man. He was i tall, and had a short, stubby moustache. . —The jury returned the following verdict : . _ « That deceased, by name unknown, was ' found dead." The dead man is believed by the police • to be identical with Private John Sweeney, > who deserted from the 18 th Regiment, at Napier, on the 7th December last.