THREW HIMSELF OVER CLIFF

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1930, Page 6

THREW HIMSELF OVER CLIFF

MAORI KILLED AT MOTUNUI. VERDICT OF '‘DEPRESSED MIND.” “That he killed himself "while jumping over a cliff when in a depressed state of mind” was the verdict returned at Motunui yesterday at the inquest on Poki Martin, a middle-aged native who on Tuesday morning was found dead at tho foot of the high cliffs on the western bank- of the Waiau River. The discovery Was made by Messrs. AV. Brown and “L'. J -''Skelton, residents of the district,'dftel* 1 they had found Martin was not tit his''house, about a quarter- of a mile 1 Htvaiy from the scene of the tragedy. He, had lit a fire in the house and this "was still burning when the man’s friends arrived. They found 'Martin’s hat and socks at the top of ' t.he clfff. Looking over they saw his body 'on the rocks about 150 feet below?' The rising tide prevented the recovery of jthe body- until tne afternoon. . Martin is survived by a widow and family. The inquest was presided over by Mr. W. F. Jenkins, J.P.’, acting coroner. Messrs. P. G. Mallett (foreman), G. Brown, B. C? LapOuple and T. Stockman constituted a jury. Constable La'pbuple conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police, ‘it was disclosed that there had been previous .instances of mental instability in , Martin’s family.