A FATAL FALL.
IXQUEST AT WAITAKA. Ari inquest was held at W'aitara yesterday, before Mr. 11. S. Filzhea'bcrt, coroner, concerning tlie death of a native named Ajiiao Aouui, who was found dead on Mr. Luxtoii's farm near Waitara oil Thursday morning wUh nis neck broken. 'the following jury was empanelled: Messrs. W. F. Jenkins (t'orcnunl, 11. u. Matthews, Symes, (Jrant, Sampson, and J. U'ylie. Sergeant Uaddrell conducted the ease for the police. Kaiaiiua, deceased's wife, st.it'i. that her. husband left home lor Tikorangi at mid-day on Wednesday, on horseback. The horse was usually a quiet one. She had known deceased lull oil' the horse when under the iniluence of drink, but not when sober. Deceased was not a drunkard. He was strong and healthy. Ema Tina Bona, who resides near deceased's place, gave evidence of iinding the body on Thursday morning near tlie ijesiuVncc of \Mr. Chappell, near Big Jim's Hill. Deceased was lying face downward, with bis arms spread out. His horse, with saddle and bridle, on, was a short distance away.
Bertram Chappell, of Waitara, a bootmakV'r, said the body was found about three chains from his (witness's) house. It was on Mr. Luxton's farm, on the line of a short cut taken by natives. There were no signs of a struggle. There was a fairly steep incline at the spot, and there were marks which seemed to .show that the slipped about a foot- "Witness saw deceased about 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening, just as he was entering the short cut. Witness noticed that deceased, who said " good-night" as he passed, was the worse for drink. In answer to a juryman, witness said deceased was rolling about 1 in his saddle Witness thought deceased was going to fall oil' when he shut the gale. IVrcy Bishop, telegraphist at Waitara, said that in consequence of information given him he went to Big Jim's Hill and brought the body to Waitara. Witness noticed marks of the horse having slipped. The grade was a safe one, even for a man ordinarily drunk. Witness judged that deceased fell off his horse on the left side, head first. He was a heavy man, weighing l(i or 17 stone. Dr. (ioode said he had examined the body, and found the neck broken. "Witness considered the base of the skull was fractured also. The fall from a horse of such a heavy man was quite sufficient to account for the fatal injuries. Death must have been instantaneous. Witness found no smell of liquor about deceased, and he tested his mouth for it.
Sergeant Iladdrell said that was all the evidence he could produce at the present time, and as there was evidence that deceased was drunk, the police would make further inquiries as to where deceased had spent his time on the Wednesday. The Foreman said the juryman was prettv well satisfied as to the cause of death'. The Coroner remarked that if the investigation was concluded now, it was still open for the police to take any furtlier action they thought fit. However, he saw no harm in an adjournment, and decided to adjourn the inquiry till Friday, 6th December, at 2 p.m.—"Mail."
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 30 November 1907, Page 2
Word Count
530A FATAL FALL. Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 30 November 1907, Page 2
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