INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 408, 5 July 1881, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held in the.Stur hotel, Temuka, on Saturday morning last, before J.N. Wood Esq.. Coroner, touching the death of Simon Demuth, a child about eight years of age, who was found drowned in the Temuka river on Wednesday evening last. The following jurors were empanelled: —Messrs Uprichard, Lawson, Brewer, Me S. Gentlemun, Tombs, Beri, McGrath, Buss, Mahanke, Metson, Fisher, Sngert. Mr L. Tombs was chosen foreman. John McGuinness who did not answer to his name when called on excused himself on the ground that he came from some distance. The Coroner having addressed the jury, the following evidence was adduced

Ellen Webb deposed : I reside in George Town, and am the wife of Andrew Webb. I knew the deceased Simon Demuth whilst alive. 1 saw him last be tween 3 and 4 o’clock on Wednesday, June 29th. Ho was then running across the railway bridge .over the Temuka river. There was no one with him. He was going from Temuka towards the southern bank. He was on the southern aide of the water. I took no more notice of him. I next saw him when he was brought out of the Temuka river.

By a juror: I could not tell whether he waa in the centre of the bridge or the side.

William Henry Derauth, deposed : lam brother of the deceased Simon Demuth, and remember on last his being missed from home o'clock. Enquiries and search were made to ascertain where he waa. His hat was found alongside the rocks underneath the railway bridge, and I then thought he had fallen into the water. I was not present when the body was found. I had been away all day, and was having my tea when he was missed.

By a juror : His hat was found underneath between the piles. William Deumth, deposed : I am father of the deceased Simon Demath. He was eight years and six months old at the time of his death. I was nob at home that afternoon. He was engaged during the afternoon minding some pigs. He had no business on the bridge. . There ape no circumstances in connection with his death other than that he must have Been accidentally drowned By a juror ; There is plenty of room between the sleepers of the bridge for even a grown person or horsa to fall through. John Morton, deposed : I am a constable of police, stationed at Terauka. Shortly after five o’clock on the evening of the 29ih ult., I was informed that a boy named Simon Demutli wi»s missing, and supposed to have fallen into the Tomuka river. lat once got the drag and went with two brothers of the deceased to the railway bridge over the Temuka river and dragged. Shortly after eight o’clock a man named Fergusson threw the drag in my presence into a deep waterhole near the bridge and drew it near the edge. After doing so a second time I saw an object in the hole. Brought it to the bank and found it to be the body of the boy Simon Demuth. I laid it on the bank and found that life was quite extinct. I bad it taken to the father’s house, and on the body being stripped no part of it showed any marks or bruises. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned,”