DROWNING FATALITY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2722, 11 May 1931, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY.

TRAGEDY AT KOPUARAHI. WOMAN FOUND IN TROUGH. As a sequel to a drowning fatality at Kopuarahi on Saturday afternoon last, a verdict of “Accidental Death” was given by the coroner at Thames on Sunday morning at 10 o’clock. The victim of the . tragedy was Miss Winifred Morecraft, aged 31, sister-in-law of Mr J. A. Williams, of Kopuarahi, for whom she was keeping house. 1 Mr Williams’ wife died in March, and some six weeks ago Miss Morecraft, sister of the late Mrs Williams, came to Kopuarahi from Hawera to keep house for her brother-in-law. She was partially crippled in both feet from birth, a fact which contributed to the accident causing her death. The story of. the tragedy from available evidence, has been reconstructed as follows :— On Saturday Mr Williams went to Thames, taking the children with him and leaving Miss Morecraft at home. She set about preparing dinner, peeled the potatoes, and had all the food in readiness to cook. Evidently at this point she decided that a little cabbage would add to the taste of the meal, and proceeded to the garden to get some. Between the garden and the house was a fence in which was a gate, and beside it was set a concrete trough 12ft. by 12ft. and 2ft. 3in. deep. Returning from the garden Miss Morecraft, instead of opening the gate, stepped on to the edge of the trough to cross the fence, which on most farms is quite a common practice. Evidently in doing this she slipped and fell, striking her head on the concrete edge, falling unconscious into the water and was drowned. Latex* in the. day Mt Williams and children missed “ Auntie Winnie,” but their father* supposed she was calling on a neighbour. He had a cup of tea, and going out to feed the pigs noticed three cabbages and a knife lying by the trough near the house. Invs ligation revealed the whole tragedy. Dr. Miller, of Turua, who was called in, could only pronounce life extinct. Miss Morecraft was of a happy disposition, and loved by all who knew her.