MAORI BOY'S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 257, 30 October 1934, Page 6

MAORI BOY'S DEATH

BODY FOUND IN STREAM SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. Suspicious circumstances surround the death, of a Maori boy, Archie Teddy, aged 10 years, whose body was found in the Mangawara Stream about 12 miles from Huntly. .Medical evidence at the inquest was that the boy had been injured about the face and that he was dead before his head entered the water. 'ihe inquest was adjourned to enable a post mortem examination to be made. In the course of evidence Thomas Barton, stepfather of deceased, employed at a Public Works camp at Orini, said that about a week ago his wife became ill and went, to reside, with relatives at Huntly. About 6.30 a.m. on Saturday witness went to see his wife, leaving the children in bed. He told the eldest boy, Archie, to get the bread after breakfast. He usually carried the bread in a sugar-bag and would cross a bridge oxer the Mangawara Stream. When witness returned from Huntly about 12 a.m. the following day he ivas informed that the boy was missing and that a sugar-bag containing the bread had been found on the bridge. There was no trace of the boy. WitneSs was present at Orini when a constable found the boy’s body in the Stream. Deceased could not swim. Dr. Jamieson, of Huntly, said that there was a lacerated wound of the left angle of the mouth and of the under surface of both upper and lower lips adjoining, it. As far as external signs were concerned he formed the opinion that the wound on the face was caused during life, and that, life was extinct when the head ent ('red the water.