Inquest.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 24 November 1916, Page 2

Inquest.

An inquest was held on the body of Mrs J. W. Jones on Wednesday morning last, at H a.m. at the Court House, Huntly, before Mr E. J. Farrell, J.P. (coroner), and a jnry consisting of Messrs E. A. Jones (foreman), A. Fraser, J. Hogan, W. Rus»» H. H. Sissons, and J. Brooks. Bryn Kinson deposed: lam a miner, working at Huntly, I have seen the body of a female lying at the Morgue,and identfied it as that of Mrs J. W. Jones of Hakanoa Street Huntly. I have known the deceased for four or I five years. She was about 48 years of age. She was a native of Wales, and had been in New Zealand about 6% years. For the last month deceased had been very despondent. She worried a lot about the death of her husband, who had been killed in the Huntly Mines Disaster in 1914. Martha Whorsky stated : I am a resident of Hakanoa Street, Huntlyl knew the deceased very well. I frequently visited her. On the morning of the 14th she seemed worried and distressed, that was about 12.30. I had a conversation with her at the door of her house, but she did ijot ask me in which was unusual. I noticed that she seemed worried and disappointed on missing the train that morning. I asked her if she felt unwell but she did not reply. She passed my house about one o’clock. She had no hat on then, and was walking smartly. A neighbour and I saw her turn the corner going towards the river, I called and we both followed her, but saw nothing of her. We looked up and down the road and along the river bank with the same result, and there was no other person in view, and then reported the matter to the police. G. Tetzloff said, I am enginedriver at the flax-mill Rangiriri. I live at Ohinewai, and go up and down the river by launch. I left Ohinewai on Tuesday morning at 5.30 a.m. On going down the river.about 6 miles from Huntly, I saw the body of a female floating dow T n the river, and made it fast to a tree with a piece of rope. On arrival at Rangiriri I immediately communicated with the police. Dr. C. Low, deposed : I am a duly qualified practitioner residing at Huntly. I saw the body of a female at the Morgue this morning. The decased was about 50 years of age. Apparently the body had been in the water for several days. There were no marks or bruises about the body. I had attended deceased on a previous occasion, Deceased seemed depressed and uieloncholy. It was not unusual that a person might commit suicide under similar circumstancesThomas Ingram, Police Const., Huntly, stated : I went to Rangiriri yesterday morning in response to a telephone message from the previous witness. G. Tetzloff. I tojk charge of the body and had it conveyed to Huntly to await the Coroner’s inquest. Thwjury returned the following verdict : “ That deceasd c«*imitted suicide by drowning wlWie in a state of mental depression.