BODY FOUND IN CREEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 12

BODY FOUND IN CREEK

OLD RESIDENT OF HUNTLY WAY LOST IN DARKNESS [UY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HUNTLY, Tuesday The body of Mr. Richard Skellern, retired engineer, agod 79 years, was found at 6 o'clock this morning in a creek about 50 yards at the back of his residence in Huntly South. Deceased, who had resided here for the past 45 years, had lived with his granddaughter, Mrs. J. Stirling, for six years.

At an inquest hold this afternoon before Mr. F. Harris, coroner, Jamea Stirling, ' fruiterer, said deceased was his wifo's grandfather. He had been ill for the past four weeks. Afcout 6 o'clock this morning witness' wife Baid her grandfather had gone out early and had not returned. Witness searched the property and found deceased lying in a small creek at the back of tho house. . I

The creek was only 22in. deep, said witness, and about 6ft. wide. Thert» were two railway sleepers across it at the place where he found the body. These sleepers were used as a bridge. In the past few weeks deceased had been losing his memory. In witnesp' opinion, deceased had lost his way in the dark.

Thelma Annie Stirling, wifo of tho previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. She said deceased had of lata been very ill. Sho did not think h«i would tako his own life. She had never heard him suggest ho would. Dr. A. A. Macfarlane said in his opinion death was due to drowning. The coroner said that from the evidence deceased had apparently lost his way. He would therefore return a verdict that deceased came to his death by being accidentally drowned.