HIKUTAIA TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9041, 12 May 1915, Page 2

HIKUTAIA TRAGEDY

INQUEST CONTINUED WHAT DEAD -MAN WROTE IN A LETTER. Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 11. The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death ot Frederick Allen Clay, who was found dead in a creek at Hikutaia on Friday, April 23rd, was continued at Hikutaia to-day. When found deceased had a heavy stone tied round his neck. Air Joseph Nathan, coroner, conducted the inquest, and Mr E. Clendon represented the relatives. of the deceased. Dr -CoUzens said that ho had niade an external examination of deceased’s body and discovered no signs of violence. He considered death due to drowning. • William James Boon (deceased’s partner), known in Hikutaia as W. J. Thomas, stated that he came to New Zealand in October, 1913. He lived in a number of towns, including Christchurch, Wellington, Hastings, and Auckland. While in Auckland witness advertised for a partner to purchase a farm. Clay applied, and they purchased a farm at Hikutaia. Deceased at that time had about LI3U, and witness had £139. They took possessed of the farm in .Juno, 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. The deceased Clay went and insured tho house with the Royal Insurance Company for £l5O. The bouse was not inspected by the agent. The house was also insured by the mortgagee for £250 in the South British Office. ' Eventually deceased refused to burn the house, and the plan was not carried out. VVitness last saw deceased on the morning of Tuesday, April 2(Jth, at breakfast. After breakfast witness- went to "work on one portion of the farm. Deceased did not come home that evening, and witness started to make inquiries. He called on his neighbours, and they had not seen anything of deceased. Further search was made on Wednesday, and on Thursday witness informed the police. A party of settlers and the police searched on Thursday, and on Friday the body was discovered in a creek running through their farm. The place where the body was found was about 200 to 300 yards from the house and the pool was about 8 to 10ft deep. There was a stone about 25 to 401 b weight tied to deceased’s neck with a rope. Tho police produced a letter signed by Clay, which, he gave to'' a neighbour on January 10th, 1915. The letter was enclosed in an envelope addressed to E. »J. G. Scott, and the. following was written on the envelope:—“From F. A. Clay, to ho returned unopened when 1 wish.” The letter was as follows: “F. A. Clay wish this note to bear evidence that if anything happens to me it will likely bo by my partner, known as W. J. Thomas, as ho has on several' occasions said ho would, take my life. This morning ho said -he would, shoot me. I therefore . deposit this with Air Scott.” Tho note. was signed by F. A. Clay. The witness' denied over making a threat to take aeceascd’s life. In reply to. Sergeant Wohlmann witness said that Ife changed his- name to Thomas because’ his real name Boon had been ridiculed. , v ,

The witness was put Through a'searching cross-examination hy Mr E. Ulondon, who represented deceased’s, relatives. He did not consider burning a house down to aofraud the insurance company a very serious crime. He considered that deceased committed suicide, and said that deceased was always worrying and continuously Quarrelling about the lack of cash.' Ho said that he was always on friendly terms with Scott. , Witness made several statements which were different to statements made and signed .by him at the opening of the inquest, E. J. G. Scott (a fanner) gave evidence as to receiving the letter from deceased! He also swore that Boon (or Thomas, as he knew 'him) had said to him ' (witness) that he would kill Clay and throw; him into the river. \Evidence was also given by F. Summers,, who said that deceased had told him if ho got into trouble he would hang hiniself. At this stage the inquest was adjourned for a week. '