CORONER'S VERDICT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 6

CORONER'S VERDICT

MR J. G. COTTERILLS DEATH EVIDENCE AT INQLEST la inquest was held at Wanganui esterday before the < •.’■•ner Mr. J. H. Salmon, JS.M. into the circum 'lance- surrounding the death of Air. J. G. Cotteriil. Alter hearing evidence rhe coroner said the verdict must be an open one, that the deceased met hi* deal 11 some time before midnight on March 28 by drowning in the .Manga '•hero River. There wa* no evidence t-» show how the deceased came to be *.;» the water. It wa> probable in hi* , -tate of health that he wandered from t.ie house and fell into the water, but there was no evidence either way. Hugl < haries Min > state I'ihat I | eased had complained to him on xarims occasions of pain* in the head. There is a steep bluff about a chain • t>ove where the body was found and v. here deceased could have fallen int‘« :ue liver. Th. ■■ gra- up to the . igg • ouid not be seen. on the other porous along the bank there wa.* silt • he water edge and had dr ca.*ed gone I •1 there footprints u«»uid have been eft. Deceased as the ba it of ris i ug early io bring in the <_,v*> and the •oute he would lake was in the direction of where the bod. was found, up Dr. G. H. K ibertsoi I-j sed • eased wa.* under his care recently for ■ eatment for heart disease. He con suited witness on March 23. He showed no evident • of mental depression anti -uffer from an; mental instability ui : Impulse towani self destruction. Hi* * oaditioa was such that he would suffer, especially at night, with attacks, oi * hortness of breatn with feelings ot I ;uffo<:ation. On such ■> • asions he would 1 •e very restless and inclined to go out into the air. John Dennis Biosnar. stated that v:i ; . >e night of March 2o he went to stay , nt the home of deceased while Mrs. i • otterill and the children went to the * pictures. Witnes.* was to assist with , ine milking on the following morning. | hen went t e house j ask< deceased how he was feeling and he . die *: *• Al . ’ - ■ • bed. *Thev both retired. About mid- | n'ght witne*.- wa* aw kened by Mr.*. Cotterill who informed him that there was no sign of deceased. He iminediateh informed Mr. Munro and a *eareh was made. During the evening deceased appeared to be in good spirit.* and seemed to be very tired. Mr. P. Dickson appeared for the re-