Mr. Hawken’s Body Found Mile From Home

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1942, Page 2

Mr. Hawken’s Body Found Mile From Home

After a search extending y over six days, the body of Mr. Ernes* Edward Hawken, 58. farmer, of Maufjigatapere, was found yesterday afternoop in difficult country. There was a Wound in the throat, and a butcher's ijnife-was lying nearby. His feet were find to a tree, but there were no signs of a struggle. The discovery was made bv'.Mr. A. Kerr, one of the searchers on Mr. A. C. Mannington’s property. whkffi adjoins that of Mr. Hawken’s son, about 400 yards from the road, and about a mile from the deceased’s own residence. V

On every day since Mr. Hawken W as missed from his home last Tlu.rsdfhv afternoon an intensive search had beep carried out. Last Sunday Home Guards' covered a wide area, and on each of the other days settlers combined in efforts to locate the missing man. An inquest was opened this morning by the district coroner (Mr. G. H. Morrish). Senior-Sergeant A. Henderson representing the police. Evidence of identification was given by Maurice John O’Shea, farmer, of Maunu, who said Mr. Hawken had been in ill-health for about two years, particularly during the past 12 months. The body had been found at 3.15 yesterday afternoon by Mr. A. Kerr on property adjoining that of Mr. Hawken’s son and about a mile from his own residence.

Highly Respected Farmer

Notified by Mr. Kerr of his discovery. witness had returned with him and found the body lying face down in thick scrub alongside a stone wall in stony country on the side of a hill. Both legs were tied with cord to ti tree. There was a wound in the throat. A butcher’s knife was lying near the body. There were no signs of a struggle. The location was difficult. Searchers could pass quite close without discovering a body, as it would be necessary to look directly over the stone wall at this point. Searchers had passed the place frequently, and Mr. Kerr said he had been within a few yards of the body without finding it. Mr. Hawken had been highly respected in the district, and had been a hard-working man. The inquest was adjourned.