INQUEST ON THE BODY OF IVANHOE AUGARDE.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 103, 22 February 1868, Page 5

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF IVANHOE AUGARDE.

The same Jury, on the same day, held an inquest into, the cause of the death of Ivanhoe Stanley Augarde, who was found dead. Eight of the Jurors who had horses proceeded to the spot where the body was found, in order to view it. They had a rough and dangerous ride, as. the rivers were rapidly rising. V • - _ : ■ On reaching the body, it Whs found just as left two days before, well covered up

with grass, a blanket and stones. The body was lying flat on the back, with the legs close together, the muzzle of the rifle under the right leg and the stock on the foot of a cairn of stones close by on which it had fallen. The arms were spread out and much discolored. The rifle was a short heavy one belonging to Mr. Carter, and deceased had apparently placed the butt on the foot of the cairn and drawn the trigger with his hand, having placed the muzzle of the rifle close to the left eye. The explosion carried away the left eye, and, entering the head, took away the whole of the brain and the top of the head, a large piece of the skull being found about seven yards off, and the brains in every direction. The scalp was detached from the skull and hung down at the back of the head. The

father of the deceased was present and undertook to get the body buried. The Jury then returned to the Accommodation House, Richard Kemp, being sworn, said : I have seen a body lying at the junction of the Severn and the Alma. I believe I was the first to see the body. I looked at it and came on here, and told Mr. Hope. This was on Wednesday, about half-past seven in the evening. I have not seen the body since. I was returning from the Amuri, where I have been with Mr. Woolley on the survey. I left Mr. Woolley on Monday morning. I made Jollie’s pass on Monday night, and stopped there on Tuesday. 1 started cm Wednesday morning for Tarndale. I called at Carter’s station, and ha‘d a letter given me by JPercy Augarde for his sister at Stoke. AVhen about a mile from the j‘unction of the Alma and Severn, I saw a horse with a saddle and bridle on. The bridle was taken off the horse’s head and fastened to the saddle where a stockwhip would be hung ; I could not see any rider, and thought he must he duck-shooting. I was still looking out for the rider when I rose the hank by the eairn at the junction, and came on a dead body, I stopped about a minute and went on. At first I saw a gin-bottle, and thought that he must have been drinking, and was thrown, but on remembering the state of the horse, I came to the conclusion that he had been shooting at ducks from behind the cairn and had shot himself accidentally. With that idea I rode on to Tarndale, where, meeting Mr. Hope, I told him what 1 had seen. T The body was lying on its back, and the gun was lying at the feet, the right foot was over the muzzle of the gun, and the stock lodged against the cairn, his felt hat lay at his feet. I described the body and the dress to Mr. Hope, and he said there was no doubt that it was Ivanhoe Augarde. '‘Mr. Shrimpton was with Mi’. Hope at the time, and they told me that the same man had shot a man on the Station that day. Neither of them appeared to know for certain that it was Augarde. I did not dismount, but supposed the body to have been dead about two or three hours. Mr. Hope rode on towards Nelson that night, and I followed in the morning, and stopped at the woolshed where the Tarndale sheep were being shorn till the Coroner came up, when 1 returned to Tarndale, I saw the brains scattered about, and the blood appeared set when I first saw the body, I did not notice any other part of the body blown away. Edward Hope, being sworn, said : I am employed on Tarndale. On Wednesday, 29th January, I was coming up from the woolshed with Mr. ' Shrimpton ; we arrived at this house about ten minutes past five, in the evening; I remained here about an hour, and then proceeded to- Tarndale. About-half a mile from the Accommodation House I met Charles Sparrow, who told me that his mate had been shot, and that he was running for assistance to carry him to the house, and that he thought he would be dead before we could get to him. I told him he had better go back and render him any assistance he could, and I would go to the Accommodation House and get Mr. Shrimpton, whom I believed to be a J.P.. I did so, and we got back to Tarndale about a quarter to seven. Mr. Shrimpton and I were riding, George Goble walked after ua. When we got there we could not find Charlie the German, at first. We had overtaken and passed Charles Sparrow on the way > when we came we found Charlie dead. After considering what was best to be done, we saw a horseman coming up the valley ou the South Road, which proved to be Mr. Kemp, from the Amuri.' He asked me if any one had passed, or had left the station, as there was a man lying dead by the junction of the “ Alma” and the “Severn,’' by a heap of stones. After this, wo carried the body of Charlie to the house. We asked Kemp to describe the body lying at the junction, and his description agreed with that of the man seen by Charles Sparrow and who was supposed to have shot Charlie the German. The dress was that usually worn by Ivanhoe Augarde. 1 asked Charles Sparrows for a description of the man who bad shot Charlie the German. He gave it to me but did not know bis name. He said Charlie the German, after be was shot asked him. to take him to the house and not to let him die where he was. Sparrow said that Charlie had mentioned the name of Augarde as that of the man who had shot him. I wont off that night for the nearest magistrate, and returned to Tarndale on Saturday night. I have seen the body at the junction to-day, and know it to be that of Ivanhoe Augarde. I recognised the rifle by the body as oheT had seen at Mr. Carter’s. John Show, being sworn, said: I am keeper of Mr Carter’s Accommodation House, on the 01a,en‘ce. On Tuesday evening, 23rd January, Ivanhoe Augarde and bis brother Percy came in and -Nook their tea together with me. After tea they went together to their bed-room j half-an-hour afterwards Ivy came to me and asked for a pea. I gave him the pen, and he then went to the sitting--room-and began to write. About half-an-hour after he cgme to me and asked me bow to spell ■ Blenheim;l': I told him, and he went back Into the £ room. After that I went to bed, but was disturbed bv his coming into the. kitchen soon after. I saw i ; him takefa cup and mix up some soda and acid in water and drink it. He sat on the table looking about him for about half-an-hour. At last ho put oh an old coat of mine and went back to his room, 1 jj e jj eve t 0 write. I was disturbed again some time in the night, 1 cannot say.at what time, and saw him take the teapot and drink from it. the kitchen again, and I saw him no .more that night. 1 heard no conversation that night between him

and his brother. I rose the next morning and found three horses by the kitchen door, and turned them down the bank by the house. 1 then prepared the breakfast. Percy Augarde was the first I saw that morning. He was trying to drive the horses away over the river. I went out and saw his brother helping him. Ivy Augarde followed the horses on foot, and brought them back into the yard.. I then went and told them the breakfast was getting cold. They came and took their breakfasts. Ivanhoe ate heartily and appeared as usual, and after breakfast helped his brother find some tools. He then came to me and said, “ John, will you help Percy repair the stockyard ?” I told him I could not very well, as I bad some hay to get in. He then said, “ Percy, you must do the best you can till John can help you.” He then went to his bedroom and stopped there some time. His brother then went to bore some posts. I then saw Ivy going, to his brother. I went to my work, and did not see him alive after that. He was a passionate man. I came down the hill with a back load of hay, and after getting rid of it looked for Percy on the bank, but he was not there. I went to Ivy Augarde’s window, which was open, looked in, and saw Percy Augarde sitting on the bed reading some papers, that looked like letters, with which the bed was strewn. It was about half-past eleven. I asked if he was reading loveletters. He scrambled them up. and put them in his brother’s box. I then went for more hay leaving him in the bedroom. I returned again and got the dinner ready, looked for him, but he was not at work. I went to the bedroom window again, and found him still reading letters. I told him dinner was ready. He came, and we sat down to dinner together. 1 looked at him and asked him what was the matter, as his eyes looked red and bloodshot, as if he had been crying. He told me “nothing was the matter,” so I thought it might be something else. He then went to his work and I went to mine. When I returned, perhaps about three in the afternoon, he was again in his bedroom. It was raining slightly. He did not go to his work again that afternoon. I went to bis window again and found him greasing his boots. About five or six he started towards the Acheron, but came back, and wo then went together eeling. While fishing he told me he should have to start in a few days for Blenheim on his brother’s account, and also to the Wairau to get some money from a man named Drew. We returned and went to bed. About one or two, Mr. Kemp passed on his way to Nelson, and offered to taka letters. He took one for Percy. Next morning we went together to work at the stockyard for about two hours, when I missed him again. I went to the house to look after him again, and found that he had been at the house, and ou going out saw ho had returned to his work. I then prepared for dinner. I called him, and he had just got in when the dogs barked. I went out and saw Mr. Shrimpton coming down the hill. When he came up I and Percy were standing side by side. He asked me to allow the lad to go and tetber his horse, I went to get a rope, and Percy asked him if his brother was at the tent at the Acheron, and Percy said to me, “ John, he says Ivy is not at the tent.” He then took the horse up the hill to tether. Mr. Shrimpton then asked me if there was anybody else in the house. I said no. He then took me on one side, and told me there was a most horrible thing had occurred at Tarndale. He said, “ Your overseer has gone to Tarndale and shot Charlie the German, and shot himself.” Mr. Shrimpton advised! me say nothing to Percy, but to shut up house and go to Tarndale. Percy on coming off the hills went into his room and began reading again. 1 went to him and asked him to get the horses. Ho said,, “Why! what, what is the matter, I know something has happened,” and showed me the letter produced to day from his brother. 1 then accused him of knowing about the contents of the letter before the time he stated, which he denied. Ho then went for the horses, and in his absence 1 showed. Mr. Shrimpton the letter. When he camo in, I told him what had occurred, He said, “My brother has had satisfaction out of Charlie at last.” Wo saddled the horses and set out for Tarndalo about half-past one. We came to where the body of Augarde lay, and Percy got oft and looked at the face. I did not dismount. Percy said at once it was his brother, Charles Sparrow was there about three hundred yards off, minding the body. He came on with us to Tarndale. I saw him and Percy first reading letters less than an hour after his brother left. He bad a good many letters beside him, also a pocket-book and a portemonnaie. Ido not think he had any idea of what was likely to occur when his brother left, but that he had soon after, from reading some letters. I first observed him to be agitated on Wednesday at dinner-time. Ivanhoe Augarde and I did not talk much together, not beipg very good On one occasion I mehlls3e(f*fo him having heard that there was a row between him and Charlie, and he made the remark that it was not over yet. I never heard him say he would do for him or anything to that effect. Charlie the German was working at Mr. Carter’s for about 17 months, during a great part of which time he and Augarde worked together. They used to quarrel very much. Percy Augarde being asked what letters he was reading before dinner on Wednesday 29th January, said that was after dinner. On being warned by the Coroner and the question being pressed said : 1 forgot to tell you that one of my brother’s letters to mo was not with the rest, it was stuck behind a small box in which be kept powders and small things, in such a way as to catch my eye when I came in. I got this letter shortly before dinner, but did not like to show it to John Show.

By a Juror : At the time I was reading it, I had no other papers by me, I left work before dinner because it was near dinner-time. While I weis reading it Jack came, and I put it back in the box. I had no other letters or papers about at the time. I do not remember having a pocket-bock or porftmonnaie by me at the time. I cannot be certain if I was disturbed by John Show at any time during the afternoon, while in my room. I had been crying before dinner, on account of the letter I bad read. I understood it—some of it. I thought he intended to go away, or make away with himself, or somaihing. The Jury returned the following verdict :—“ That the deceased, Ivanhoe Augarde, met hia death by committing premeditated suicide, by blowing out his brains with a rifle.”

After the Acting-Coroner had formally discharged the Jury, Mr. Wiesenhavern, at the request of his follow Jurors, expressed the high sense they entertained of Mr. Greenwood’s energy and zeal in conducting the painful business of the day, under circumstances, which, from the nature of the conntry and the distances to be travelled, were of.a peculiarly difficult and, trying character.