BARRIER FATALITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16213, 25 August 1923, Page 9

BARRIER FATALITY.

SOME ERRONEOUS EVIDENCE CORRECTED.

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED

U?er Presa Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night

The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Hubert George Weideman, at Little Barrier Island in June, was concluded before Mr. Poyriton, S.M., at the Magistrate's Courthouse; when a verdict of accidental drowning was-returned.

Ati the previous sitting, Peter Highftin, master of the, scow Haere, had given evidence* that ho landed deceased at the island on April 26. Deceased lias requested witness to take him down to the island, lie said the caretaker was a friend of his, and showed witness a letter purporting to bei written by Mr. Cleaver. Deceased was rowed ashore by members of the scow's crew.

Dr. Murray, who had performed a post molten examination of " the body, gave evidence that in his opinion the cause of death .was drowning. There were no marks of violence on the body.

William Cleaver, until recently caretaker of the island, who gave evidence at the opening of the inquiry, was recalled. He said he knew deceased, who assisted witness when her went down to tln< Little Barrier on May 23, 1922. Deceased returned to Auckland the following day. Witness first saw deceased on the island about 4 p.m. on April 26 of this year. He slept at witness' house each night until .lane 16. On the momiug of June 16, after breakfast, deceased left witness, and went out in an open boat which witness had at the island and used generally for fishing. The sea was very rough on that part of the coast at times, and it was almost dangerous to use an open boat. When deceased left witness there was a slight southerly blowing. Later it! commenced U> blow hard, and dceeasecr pulled round to the east side to fish, Witness- last saw him about 9.30 a.m., about half a mile out, and he did not seem in difficulty. The sea then became rough, and it would be impossible to pull back. Witness had to go to the west landing, and lost sight of deceased, w.hom ho did not .ngaini seen alive. He spent that night searching for deceased, as he/hnd net returned. On June 27, \ie found deceased's body, which had been washed up on the beach at a spot known as "the shaggery." It was fully dressed except for the hat and boots. Witness carried the body lip on to the cliff, and two days later had to biiry it. He did this as well as possible uudeir-the circumV stances, and placed two large boards over the grave. Two days after deceased was missed witness found the boat on the east side of the island about two miles from where the body was found. The oars and rowlocks were in the boat, which was just above high tide mark.

Mrs. JD. E. Clever, wife of the last witness, cave evidenco'tliat deceased was on the island when she returned from Auckland on April 30, and she last saw him-on June 16. During that fiffljjpd be slept at the house and had hia hHBtIs there. He was on the best of terms with them. Witness said thati the statement she mcfde to the police on July 19 was erroneous »in certain respects. She was now telling the truth. Deceased had told her ,he was there on a holiday and f« see her husband. / Greta Olive Dane l , a. sister of Mrs. ('lever, who went to the island in March to look after the children' during Mrs. (leaver's absence, also gave similar evidence as to deceased's stay on the island. She also said that parts of the statement she made to the police on 1 July 20 wore erroneous. What she was now statmg was the truth. Senior-Detective Oummings, -who was in charge of the police party which went to the island on receipt of the information of deceased's death", gave evidence •us to making inquiries into the circumstances, and obtaining statements from various persons. From inquiries, he was satisfied that there were no suspicious circumstances.,

, The Coroner said that Dr. Murray gavei the cause of death as drowriinu, (hough there was no evidence to show bow this occurred.

"Comment may he made as to the inconsistent statements made- at other time? by witnesses from the island,"*

raid Mr. Poynton. "There is no reason for that. Tho Little Barrier is a bird sanctuary, and tho presence there of a stranger without a permit would cause inquiries as to the reason. Theiro was therefore a motive for concealing his

"rosence. T wish to- &ay."'continued Mr. Poynton. "in justice to Mr. Cleaver, who might be suspected of eoncdolilig more, than ho had disclosed, that I have no reason for anv suspicions whatever as to his beinrr the cause of the death. The vcrdiofc will be that dweased Wcide man was drowned at tho Little Barrier about June 16, 1923. There is no- evidence to show how he got into tihe water, but everything now known indicates that it was purely accidental"