INQUEST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 428, 11 September 1877, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held to-day at the Empire Hotel, before W. J. Steward, Esq., J.P., on the body of Hannah Harper, which was found in the lagoon yesterday. The following jury were sworn :—J. Spence (foreman), H. Cleghorn, A. Headland, It. Gray, R. Home, R. Leigh, J. Cagney, B. Perry, J. Lawson, W. H. "Konayne, C. K. Lawrie, R. Richardson, P. Mason, and A. Harding. Sub-Inspector Smith conducted the examination. After the' jury had viewed tie body, the following evidence was taken : Alex. Harper, miner, at present residing in Oamaru, d. posed : Tiie deceased was his wife. He had been married two years. He last saw her at Jenny Paul's house, about 2 o'clock on Monday morning, the 10th inst. He and his wife had had a ' barney." He left his wife at Jenny Paul's and went along Humberstreet to Lizze Anderson's house. There were two men in the house one in bed and one on the sofa. He then went to bed, and awakened about 9 o'clock in the morning, when he went to Jenny Paul's to look for his wife. He was there informed that after he had left his wife had gone out and not returned. He then went to the Police Station to inquire whether she had been locked up. [The witness here stated that he had not seen the body of his wife since its recovery, and was sent with a policeman to view the body.] He had seen the body, and recognised it as his wife. She was wickedly disposed, and on Sunday night was " quarrelsome drunk." To a juror: He had been so provoked by his wife that he beat her. Jenny Paul was present when he struck his wife. He and his wife arrived in Oamaru a we* k ago. They had staytd one night at the Oamaru Boarding-house, and afterwards at Jenny Paul's and Lizzie Anderson's. After the quarrel on Monday, his wife had said she would not stay in the house, and her lust words before he went away were, " AlicK, let us come out and sleep on the green." He might have struck his wife with his foot on the back of the head. Jenny Paul stated that she knew Harper and his wife. They were at her house on Sunday, and had been quarrelling. After Harper went away, the deceased sat outside crying and screaming. She was very excitable, and had taken up a poker to strike her husband. Harper struck her (deceased) in the face, but had r« ceived great provocation. Some time after, she came into my room, put on her hat and shawl, and went out. Deceased was jealous of Lizzie Anderson. My sister gave deceased some money and a small purse, Lizzie Anderson deposed that Harper «i«]e to her house about 2 o'clock on Monday morning, and said he had had a row with his wife, and had 1- ft her at Jenny Paul's. He got into bed, and did not leave until after daybreak. James Gilchrist deposed that he was at Lizzie Anderson's when Harper came, and that he left him there when he left about 9 o'clock in the morning. Harper had not left the house during the time, to his knowledge. Willjani Rayner gave evidence in reference to hearing the cry for help, the particulars of which we published in yesterday's issue. Michael Joyce, constable, deposed to finding the bod.y. and produced a small purse, containing 7s. 6d., which he found on deceased. Dr. De Lautour deposed that he had made a post mmiem examination of the body. There were three bruises on the head of the deceased, but thty were <,nly slight ones. He had no doubt that the deceased had lost her life through asphixia caused by drowning. There were no mr.iks of violence sufficient to cause her death. The Acting Coroner summed up the evidence in a few words, and the jury, after a few minutes' consideration, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to her death by drowning.