DROWNED MAN'S LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 9

DROWNED MAN'S LETTER.

SUGGESTION OF CRIME.

ALLEGATION DENIED,

PARTNERSHIP IN A FARM

DECISION TO BURN' HOUSE.

Tilk circumstances of the death of Frederick Allen ( lay, who was found in a neck nt Hikutaia, near Paeroa, on Friday, April 23, were further investigated at the adjourned inquest at Hikutaia. Mr. Joseph Nathan conducted the inquest and Mr. E. (Tendon represented relatives of deceased. Medical examination had discovered no signs of violence and attributed the death to drowning.

The ixjii a produced a letter signed by Clay, which he'gave to a neighbour on January 10, 1915. The letter was enclosed in an envelope addressed to E. J. G. Scott, which bore the following note :— "From F. A. Clay. To be returned unopened when I wish." The letter was aa follows:— "F. A. Clay wish this note to bear evidence that if anything happens to me it will likely be by my partner, known as W. J. Thomas, as he has on several occasions said he would take my life, ihia morning he said he would shoot inc. 1 therefore deposit this with Mr. E. Sunt." The note was signed by V. A. Clay. Ikcensed's partner, William James Boon, known in tlikutaia as W. J. Thomas, was a witness. He denied ever having made a threat to lake deceased's life. He changed his name to Thomas because his real name had been ridiculed. Clay and he purchased a farm at Hikutaia. Defeased at that timo had about £130, and witness had £139. They took possession of the farm in June, 1914. In January last they had a credit of £54, and now had a credit balance of £4. The shortage of cash led to disputes and they decided to insure the house and burn it down to get the money. Deceased went and insured the house for £150. The house was not inspected by the agent. The house was also insured by the mortgagee for £250 in another office. Eventually deceased refused to burn the house, and the plan was not carried out. Witness last saw deceased on the morning of Tuesday, April 20, at breakfast. After breakfast witness went to work on one portion of the farm. Deceased was at the house. Deceased did not come home that evening, and witness started to make inquiries. He (ailed on his neighbours, and they had not seen anything of deceased, On Friday the body was discovered by a search party in a creek running through their farm. The place where the bodywas found was about 2Coyds to 300 yds from tin' house, and the pool was about Bft to lOit deep. There was a stone about 251b to 401b in weight tied to deceased's neck by a rope.

Under miss-examination by Mr. Clendon witness .'•aid he considered that deceased committed suicide. Deceased was always worrying about want of money, and was continuously quarrelling about the want of cash.

K. .]. G. Siott, a farmer, gave evidence a? to receiving the letter from deceased. He also swore that Boon—or Thomas, as he knew him—had said to witness he would kill Clay and throw him into the river.

V. Summers said that deceased had told him that if he got into trouble lie would luiie himself.

The inquest was at this point adjourned for a week.