ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11561, 9 January 1913, Page 5

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED.

INQUEST ON BOY SINCLAIR.

An inquest concerning the death ot William Murtle Sinclair, who Avas drowned in the Park Lake yesterday afternoon, Avas held at the resilience ot bis parents in Lincoln road, before Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (coroner). William Sinclair, father of the de- . ceased boy, said that the latter was nine years* of age. He last saw the deceased alive about 12.45 p.m. yesterday. His son called at witness's bilbard-i-oom and said that he Avas going for a sAvim in the Lake. Witness toll his son not to go into the deep part of the lake, but to keep in the shallow pa-t the boatshed. Deceased said dad," and Aveut away. About minutes later Avitness heard that an accident had happened to his son. He proceeded to the Lake accompanied by Mr Leslie Kyle. They both went into the water, Avhere some boys indicated deceased had last beeu seen. After a few minutes searching the body Avas recovered. Efforts were made to resuscitate him, but failed. The boy had been drowned before they reached Lake. Deceased could sAvim, but very little, as he was just learning to SAvim. Noel AndreAv, a boy ten years of ug y said he was Avith the deceased a" tlie Park Lake yesterday afternoon. WillieAndrew, witness's cousin, Avas also Avith them. Deceased dived into the Avater in tho deep part, near the dressing place. Willie Andrew walked iv up to his kness and came out again. The deceased was swimming about all right, but got out of his depth. The Avater and wind seemed to drive deceased out into the centre of the Lake. Witness Avi-at to got a stick for deceased to catch hold of, but could not find one long enough. Deceased sank and rose three times, and then disappeared altogether. Witness previously called out to deceased to do the breast stroke, but deceased did not answer. When the men arrived witness pointed out where deceased had gone down.

Charles Groombridge, aged 8A years, said that he Avas at the Park Lake yesterday afternoon when deceased and other boys came to swim. He heard the deceased say, " Yon watch me swim and dive -properly." Deceased dived in and sAVam into deep Avater. Deceased could not swim any further, as he was tired. Then deceased sank aud rose again three times. Witness then ran to the shed Avhere he kneAV a man Avorked, but could not find him. He then went to the police. Williams Amlr.AV said he was nine years old and lived at Carterton. He was Avith the deceased and the other boys at the Lake, and corroborated the evidence given by the tAVO previous witnesses. Noel Andrew stated that he had told another boy, Avho said he could sAvim, that a boy Avas drowning, but the boy spoken to said that "he Avas only pulling his leg." "In reply to the coroner this Avitness said, that he did not liiioav the boy's name. Leslie Kyle said that about 1.1. p.m. yesterday he Avas talking to Mr Sin elair in the hitter's billiard room. Avhen _sfr D. Threadwell came in and said that Mr Sinclair's son was in difficulties at the Park Lake. They hurried doAvn to the Lake, and Avitness Avent into th-.: water, eventually discovering the body in about 6ft of Avater. Attempts Avere made to resuscitate life, till the arrival of Dr. A. Hosking. Dr. Arch.r Hosking gave medical evidence, stating that he was called to the Park Lake just after 1.30 p.m. yesterday. He saAv the body of the deceased boy. He tried artificial respiration, but the boy Avas quite dead. The body shoAved signs of drowniug. From the time the boy had been in the water ho must have been dead when taken out. Th efforts 'Of-'-those-present .Avhe.': he arrived to bring back life were intelligently conducted —which from his experience was not always the case. Tliis concluded the evidence, and the coroner returned a verdict of accidentally drowned.

The funeral will leave the residence of the parents at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.