SKELETON IN SCRUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20304, 11 July 1929, Page 14

SKELETON IN SCRUB.

UNKNOWN MAN'S FATE. INDICATIONS OF POISONING. [IIY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] PUKEKOIIE, Wednesday. Tho identity of tlio mail whoso skeleton was found in somo scrub on Mr. E. Taylor's property, between Patumahoe and Wainti Pa, on January 21 remains unsolved and the death -has had to bo registered as that of an unknown man. Tho inquest was concluded by Mr. C. K. Lawrie to-day. Dr. J. McWhirter said the man had evidently been about 45 to 50 years of ago, about sft. Bin. in height and practically bald. 110 had a full upper set of false teeth, from which two were missing. In the lower jaw he had a partial artificial denture..

Constable C. \V. Powell, of Pukekohe, said tho remains, which woro found by Mr. A. Woolsey when cutting scrub on Mr. Taylor's property, were lying in a small patch of rushes and scrub. Only tho skoleton remained. 110 found a small bottle lying near the right foot. Tho cork had almost rotted away. In tho bottle was poison. Tho boots appeared well worn, as if deceased had walked a long way. A £1 noto and a 10s ( noto were found in a tobacco tin in deceased's pockot and 4s lid in cash was also found. Exhaustive inquiries had been mado to discover deceased's identity, but without success.

Tho coroner returned a verdict that death was probably caused by poisoning. There was no evidence to show how it was taken or how long tho.mari had been dead.