TAIERI DROWNING CASE

Otago Witness, Issue 3231, 16 February 1916, Page 26

TAIERI DROWNING CASE

AN OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the young woman named Harriet Parsons, who met her death by drowning in the Taieri River on Saturday, sth inst., was conducted at the Taieri fen-y on Saturday, before Mr J. W. Petrie, J.P. (acting-coroner), and a iury. Evidence of identification was given by the deceased's father. David Parsons, who stated that his daughter would have been 22 years of age next month. He last saw her alive about 6 o'clock on the morning of the fatality. Deceased was in her usual health and spirits. He took part in the search for the body, and on Friday discovered it floating face down opposite the Taieri Ferry School beach. Witness knew of no reason why she should go into the river intentionally, and was convinced she had been accidentally drowned. Mrs M. A. Blaekwell, Waihola, .gave evidence that deceased was her bister. Witness was staying at her father's house for a few days, and on the Saturday morning deceased and she were carrying out ordinary household duties. Shortly after 11 o'clock witness thought she heard someone shout "Oh." She went to the door, and afterwards down the path to the road, and then noticed her sister floating: downstream, face downwards. Witness rushed in the water up to her waist, but was unable to reach deceased. She shouted for help, and Miss Wallace was the first to arrive, but the body had then disappeared. Witness had no : dea how deceased got into the water, except that the road to the paddock was fairly close to the river. Her sister had been in good spirits, and there was nothing in connection with her life to cause her undue worry. Evidence was also given by Geo. W. Crawford, of Tweedie. of Berwick; Mary Wallace, of Taieri Ferry ; find Constable Fox, of M'lton, the last-named statins: that the river bank was sloppy, and deceased could easily have sliT>n«d off the edge. The jury returned a verdict that deceased met her death by in the Taieri River, and was no evidence to show how she <rot into the water. Mr Crawford (one of the witnesses) took the onportunitv to publicly express the 1 family's Gratitude to the nobc© (Constables Fox. of Milton, and Ponthgate, of Ontram) for the kmdlv consideration and thoughtfulness towards the family during- the of duties. The funeral of Miss Parsons took nlace on finndav. when her remains were interred at the Ma/>ri Kaik Ometery. H'nley. The laro-e cortetr 0 tint followed showed the esteem in which deceased was held, friends and -neighbours from Waihola. Henley, Otokia. and Maori residents of th« district also attended in a bodv to show their respect. The many floral tributes sen? were tokens of the ~ctoom in which was held. The R.r-v. ,T. Morland. of M'lton conducted services at the house and cemetery.