THE RAHOTU ACCIDENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2337, 27 January 1893, Page 2

THE RAHOTU ACCIDENT.

Oar correspondent has kindly forwarded I us an account of the inquest, which was ! held before Mr. F. M. Chapman, Acting I Coroner, with a jury of Messrs. Anderson, King, Morgan, Pope, W. C. Phillips, and Wolford. Tbe evidence of Mr. Wills was just as published previously, and the facts of Mr. Wills having returned home, his wife being missing, and tbe search resulting in tbe discovery of the body in tbe well were also testified to by Mr. F. W. Phillips and Mr. Pennington, a relative of deceased. They returned home for dinner at about half past two. But it seemed from tbe evidenoe ot Mr. Hiokey, baker, Pungarehu, that be called at tbe house about 1 o'clock, but could make no one hear, although he saw a little girl in a swing chair in the boose. After knocking and cooeying five or six times he went away. Mr. Albert Edward Wills also gave evidence, expressing the opinion tbat deceased had been dipping water oat of tbe well with a dipper, and had tumbled in. Constable Hiokman proved that he went to Mr. Wills' residence ; inspected the body, which was fully dressed, and quite dead ; there were no marks of violence on it ; it bad tbe appearance of a drowned 1 person. There were no signs of disorder about the premises. The verdict was — " The jury find that the deceased, Susanna i Wills, was accidentally drowned."