FALL FROM A CLIFF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 61

FALL FROM A CLIFF.

INQUEST ON JOSEPH BROWN,

SENSATIONAL UEVEI -OPMENTS. GISBORNE, August 13.

The Gisborne Times correspondent al Wairoa reports that a somewhat sensational development marked the inquest held at Wairoa into the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Brown, who was killed last week through falling over a cliff al Rualcituri A great deal of evidence win heard, occupying 14 hours, and finally the inquiry was adjourned till Thursday, after the foreman of the jury had stated that a rumour was in circulation that a scuffle had taken place <>n the cliff, and the jury wished to investigate and examine three further witnesses.

Du. John Miller gave evidence that tho injuries to (In* dead man consisted of abrasions on the nose, mouth, ami breast, and a dislocated neck. The bruises might have been caused by a Mow, but he would not say they were due to foul play. Boyhan, who was a passenger with hi# wife in tho conveyance driven hy deceased at the time of the fatality, gave evidence that as soon as the driver left, the Valley road and went on to the pack hack :h» conveyance bumped over several big boulders and witness and his wife were both thrown out. The driver went on for six or seven yards ami could not go any further. The horses stood quiet while the* driver jumped down and stood dazed, looking at the vehicle but making no attempt to take out the horses. Witness took out the horses, which then ran up the bank, and deceased ran to head them. The track was covered with manuka. Deceased punched one of the horses and the animal swerved round, but did not kick deceased. He fell backward over the bank head doivuw■■ ■■ The bank was very stoop. Witness ; I deceased by the trouser leg and held him for 15 minutes, and witness’s wife for another two minutes. Deceased never spoke a word, but every moment h# was slipping fuilher down the bank, and eventually they had to let go and the body fell into the bed of the river. Boyhan admitted that he was muddled with drink at the time and said that the driver took as much as he did.

Mrs Boyhan gave corroborative evidence, hut denied that the deceased was drunk. During cross-examination Mrs ik.yhan broke down and complained that the pc!;-.a were trying to muddle her. Evidence was given or the trading of mo body by A. J. Galbraith. Witness was of opinion that it would have been possible to support the deceased when he was hanging over the cliff, although he was 13st in weight, but a man would need all his faculties to do so. and Hoyhan seemed dazed with drink.

J. 11. Clayton gave evidence fl* to tho party having liquor with them, ami said it was not the action of a sober man to drive the buggy down where i f was. ft was sheer madness. Witness said lie found no manuka or fern.in the bands of deceased when ho opened them. He examined the bank on Saturday night. The manuka was not broken down or bent river as if deceased had caught at it. There was no evidence as to anyone having been on the bank to hold a person up. Witness found horse prints and one man’s footprints, and also a grey felt hut flattened out as if someone had sat upon it. Witness though# the hat had belonged to deceased. While witness was signing Ids deposition* the foreman of the jury said it was reported at Ruakituri that deceased and Boyhan had had a scuffle. The jury determined to call three more witnesses, and the hearing was adjourned as stated above.