MATAURA DROWNING FATALITY.

Mataura Ensign, 21 July 1914, Page 5

MATAURA DROWNING FATALITY.

INQUEST ON MR J. C. CARROLL

An inquest touching the death of Mr John C. Can-oil, who was drowned in the, Mat'.mra River on May 23, wan held at Alataura yesterday before the act.ngeoronct- (Mr Joh.n Lowden, J.P.) and the following jury;—Messrs John Hisli n (foreman), W. I'. Thorn, Jan. liepry and Thomas Fow. Jans Carroll, wit.'. ot t.hc deceased, gave evidence to< the effect that her husband left home at about C.30 a.m. on May 28 to cross the river for the purpose of milk ng the cow, according to his usual custom. That was the. last occasion on which she had been him. Thomas Carroll, brother of deceased, stated that ,on May 23 he reported to Constable I'a.irett that the . deceased' had been drowned in the rivef. In company with others he found the boat m which his brother had crossed the river. Ho had searched the river banks since the accident' and on Sunday he went out aga n for tho purpose of making further scircli. He travelled 'along the river banks accompanied by Mr Christie, to opposite' Mavaru-ia and found the body of deceased lying on a gravel 1 beach. He reported the matter ta tho polios "and aflanvards assisted to remove the body to Mataura. Deceased was strong avid .healthy and had been in the habit of crossing the river every morning inr the ptupsso of milking his cow. . Constable Barrett gr.ve evidence to the effect that he was informed of the accident on the morning of May 23. W conipanv with others lie dragged the river for several days and afterwurds searchcd the river banks between Mataura. and Wyndhain. On Sunday ■'ast he was informed that Carroll's body had been found. Witness had the body removed to deceased's late ves--den'ce at Matauva. Tho deceased's watch had stopped at G.3< a.m. .The river-was fivrly h'gh on the morning of tho accident, find from investigations witness ascertained that deceased had no rowlc'ks in the boat. Witness had known deceased for two years and knew Irm to be a sober, steady man. The I'-iUowiiig verdict was returned, "That the deceased catnc by his death bv bc'ng accidentally drowned in the Mataura River."