DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7964, 15 February 1906, Page 5

DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. VERDICT OF FOUND DROWNED A jockey, named Humphrey O'Leary, was found drowned in the Waipoua River, near the Matahiwi Busu, yesterday morning. From particulars available it was ascertained that deceased and a flaxmiil hand, named J. Robertson, went along the Akura Road for a ride. When they got near the road leading to the Upper Plain, the pair, commenced to canter and O'Leary got ahead and went at a good pace. Robertson pulled up and walked his home for some distance,, and then cantered along again. Just round a bend of the road near the Matahiwi Bush Robertson came across O'Leary's horse, tied to a fence on the edge of the road. He waited for some time, and as O'Loary did not put in an appearanue Robertson commenced a search, remaiuing in the vicinity till about 10.30 o'clock. He then came back to Mastorton, and reported the affair to Mr T. Clancy, whose horses Robertson and O'Leary had been riding. Clancy and Robertson then went to the spot where the horse O'Leary was riding was tethered and searched again, but without result. About 4.30 o'clock next morning the pair again made a search, and Robertson found the body in theriverabout 200 yards from where O'Leary's horse had been tethered. Deceased was about 25 years of age, and was a well-known hurdle rider. His father resides in Blenheim INQUEST. An inquest was held in the Courthouse, yesterday afternoon, before Mr W. P. James, Coroner, and a jury of six, of which Mr E. Smith was foreman. James Cress said deceased was in his employ training a racehorse. De> ceased used to take the horse out every day for exercise. On Tuesday evening O'Leary took a horse belonging to T. Clancy out for exercise. O'Leary had been about seven years off and on in the employ of witness. He was a sober man, and was of a quiet and cheerful disposition. There was nothing peculiar, about bis demeanour, when witness last spoke to him about 12 o'clock,on Tuesday. Deceased had not been drinking at all. By the Coroner: In witnesses opinion deceased would be "the last man to commit saioide." i Joseph Robertson, sawmill hand, said that he had known deceased for about five years. Witness, went out on Tuesday evening about C.55 o'clock with deoeased. Both were riding horses belonging to Clancy. They went in the direction of the Akura Road. They were cantering along together and deceased got I ahead. Witness called out to deoeased to turn-down the road leading to the Upper Plain, but deoeased evidently did not hear him. The horses were going at a good galop. Deceased was too far ahead for witness to see whether the horse was ! out of his control. Witness walked his horse for about a quarter of a mile, and then cantered on again. Witness then came on deceased's horse tied up to a fence. The bridle was thrown over a jost. It was then about 7.30 o'clock. Witness got off the horse and waited for a time, not knowing what had become of deceased. There were two or three houses in the vicinity, but witness made no inquiries at them. He waited there for about three hours for deceased and looked up and down the road. Witness then came baok to Masterton, and reported the matter to Clancy. The latter, with witless, went back to the spot about 11 o'clock, and 1 searched again, but found no trace of deceased. Witness noticed some lights along the river, and evidently some persona were eeling there. The body was found within a chain of this spot. Clancy and witness went out again about I 4.15 o'clock on Wednesday morning Ito search for O'Leary. They found a whip near where the horse was j tied up. They then went over to- | wards the river, and witness found deceased's hat on the bank of the river about four feet from the edge of the bank. Witness went down the stream, and found the body lying in a bole about a chain further down. The body was caught in a snag about a foot under the water. The water was about six feet deep, where the body was lying. Dr. Cook said he had examined the i body at the morgue. He found a | wound from half to three-quarters of an inch on the upper, part of the forehead. It was about a quarter [ of an inch deep. ; There was also an ; abrasion about the size of a sixpence about an inch beivw the wound. There was blood issuing from the mouth, and there was general external signs of death by drowning. If deceased dived into the nver and came into contact with the stony bottom a wound similar to that made would be noticeable on deceased's head; Witness did not think that the wound was caused by deceased's bead coming into contact with a stone by a throw from a as there was ho bruising or swelling. The wound caused was either just before death or immediately afterwards. If deceased had been thrown off the horse he would have had time to get to the river, but there would be signs of swelling and bruising round the wound. In witness' opinion drowning was the cause of death. T. Clancy deposed that deceased had ridden horses for him. On Tuesday night deoeased left the Empire Stables, at about 6.55 o'clock, on a young horse belonging ti witness. The horse never buoked, but witness had seen it shy once or twice. At about 11 o'clock witness went out with Robertson to search for deoeased, but without avail. Oonstable Egan gave evidence as to removing the body to the morgue. Witness ascertained that two men named E. Astili and J. Clarke were eeling at the river about 8.30 o'clock, and stopped till 10.30 o'olook. They informed witness that they dtd not see deceased. Where deceased's hat was found there were uo signs of the bank having broken away. There was a snag in the river below the spot. After retiring for a few minutes the jury returned a verdict that de • ceased met his death by drowning, but that there was no evidence to show how ho came into the water.