FARMER’S TRAGIC FATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 87, 11 March 1935, Page 2

FARMER’S TRAGIC FATE.

HORSES BOLT AVITH SLEDGE. BODY FOUND IN SCRUB. OPOTIKI, March 9, AVord was received by the Opotiki police this week that the body of a well-known Ohiwai resident, Mr Edwin Lincoln AA r agner, aged 74, a widower, had been found at Ohiwa, about 12 miles from Opotiki. It was the practice of Mr AVagner to drive a sledge to the farm of Mr Oscar Reeves for skim milk for his pigs. He collected tho milk as usual , and left for his home. Later his horses ; were found near his wliare. It was evident that the horses had bolted. A search resulted in Mr Wagner s hat and purse being found. The body : was discovered lying in the scrub ashort distance away. Mr AVagner had evidently keen killed outright. i At the inquest Dr Budd said he had found a compound fracture of the right forearm and a fractured left shoulder, which had been forcibly torn forward and driven into the left sido of the chest wall. Practically all of the ribs on the left side had been smashed m, and there were various abrasions and small wounds on the scalp, thes left elbow and both arms and shouldeis. Death must have been ' instantaneous, due to crushing of the heart and lungs by the fractured ribs and shoulder. Deceased had evidently made desperate efforts to stop the horses, as the rope reins had been wound around his forearms, which were badly burned. In his opinion the injuries were consistent with the body having been struck by a heavy portion of the 6ledge.