FARMER’S DEATH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17181, 11 February 1930, Page 10

FARMER’S DEATH

BODY FOUND IN CREEK CORONER’S INQUEST OPENED Tin.' tragic circumstances sunouiniiiig ilio (.loath of I’elcr Wilson Muir. 44, whoso dend hotly was found by his daughter Ivins; iaee downwards in a ' creek at. the hack of his home at. Ala until kf. yesterday morning were investigated by the coroner, Mr, I’. H. Harper, 5.M... at. an iiH]lies! held yesterday allernoon at Muriutuke. and whim the evidence, of ,th(» local witnesses had been heard the. inquiry was adjourned to (li.sborne, to onahle medical testimony to lie. taken. I’pon the completion 01. yesterday's proceedings. .Mr. Harper expressed Jtis sympathy with the widow and family of the deceased in their sad hei eavotnont. ('unstable Allen, of I'alulahi. represmiled the police at Ihe inquest. The widow of the deceased, Jessie (trey .Muir, staled that at about 7 a.in. her husband was in the paddock near the house attending to the horses. When lie had not. come in for his breakfast witness went out to look for him. but could not. see him anywhere, and her daughters then went over In Mr. Morris' house, theii' neighbor, to see if the deceased was there, as lie had said he might lie going over to see Mr. Morris. Deceased was not there, however, and while returning to the house witness’ daughters saw him lying in the creek on his property. They returned home and told witness, and she immediately, telephoned Mr. Atkins, and the body was subsequently removed from the creek. The deceased bad always enjoyed good health, hut lie was of a nervous and excitable disposition, and was easily upset if anything went wrong. He had no financial worries, hut he had been worrying over a, family matter, over which be bad had scarcely any sleep lor a, week. Ho retired to bed about. 11 p.m. on Sunday, but did not sleep, and arose at 6.30 a.m. on Monday. He did not. thou mention anything about his worries. lie had never mentioned to witness that ho would take his life. Alter getting up yesterday morning lie appeared to be quite all right, and went about- his duties as usual. .Alexander Atkins, who was called in by Mrs. Muir, staled that ho found the body lying face downwards in the creek in about Biii. of water. To get to the creek the deceased would have had to climb a wire fence- running parallel with the creek. The arms were parallel with the body, and the palms of the hands were turned upwards. There was no sign whatever of any struggle. When witness and John Kane/ who accompanied him, got the body out., of ihe creek they applied artificial respiration, and continued until l)r. Howie arrived, hut without, success. Corroborative evidence was given by John Kane. * Kathleen Muir, 18, daughter of tho deceased, also gave evidence corroboration' t hat of her mother.