WAIKANAE DROWNING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2279, 26 August 1908, Page 1

WAIKANAE DROWNING FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF FOUND DROWNED. An inquest was liekl yesterday afternoon before Mr W. E. Akroyd, Deputy-Coroner, touching the death of the woman Jane Maeleay, whose body was found on the Waikanac Beach on Monday. The following jury was empanelled: Messrs G. F. Lewis (foreman) D. Nelson, J. Brooking, 11. R. Simeon, H. Ingram and IF. Melville. ’ Sergeant Hutton conducted the enquiry for the police. v , Andrew Ivinnimont, manager of the abattoirs,,said, that about 9 a .in. on Monday morning a native told him there was a dead body on the beach. He iat once went to see what it was, and found the body of deceased. The- body was lying face downwards and he turned it over. He then informed the police, and later gave the body into the charge of Constable Macpherson. Robert Maeleay, tailor, of Gisborne, said that the body was .th-at of his wife, Jane Maeleay. He last saw deceased alive on Wednesday August 12th. He left for Auckland that morning and deceased saw him off. Deceased was then in good spirits, and the best relationship existed between them. He returned from Auckland on Sunday, in consequence of a telegram he received from G. Holmes, asking him to come, or send a man. He had not intended to come back to Gisborne, and had told deceased to until he got settled, when lie intended to send for her. He did not give deceased to under stand that he was “clearing out” from her. When he arrived back from Auckland he walked past the house where they lived next to the Railway Stables; and later made enquiries as to the deceased’s whereabouts; finding eventually that she had taken a room in Grey street with a Mrs Murphy. Here he was told that she had not been seen since the previous Saturday. Deceased had been drinking prior to his departure for Auckland ; but there was no truth in the suggestion that it was because of this that lie left her.

Mrs Bridget Murphy, boardinghouse keeper, Grey street, said that she knew deceased who stayed at her house from Thursday, 20th August, until about 8 p.ra. on 22nd. About 7 o’clock on Saturday evening deceased came to her room and told lier tliat she was a little worried and upset over Mr Maeleay coming back. Deceased gave her to understand that Mr Maeleay was not kind to her. During the time deceased was staying with witness she never appeared to be the worse for drink, although witness knew that she took a glass of ale. 1 ' The. last she saw of deceased was when she said goodnight to lier between 8 and 8.30 p.ni. on Saturday night. Mary Holmes McDowell, laundry proprietress, said that deceased had been employed by her all the time for about eighteen months. Deceased, in her opinion, often “took a glass.” She last saw deceased between noon and l p.m. on Saturday, when she was quite sober, and appeal rather calm. Deceased ap-

neared to object to Mr Mnclcay coming homo, and on tho previous Thursday or Friday deceased was crying, and said, “I will go down to the groyne and throw myself in.” Witness could not, however, say whether this throat was on account of tear .at her husband’s return or from tho effects of drink. Witness endeavored to soothe deceased all she could and thought that sho had her reconciled and calmed down. While deceased’s husband was away, she was fairly regular in her attendance at work, except on Monday and isaturday afternoons, but while ho was away she appeared more excited. Sergoniit Hutton stated that one night last week, he thought Tuesday, about 8.30 p.m., in company with Constable Scott, lie was called to a house in Feel street next to Keady’s stables. From the street lie could hoar a woman crying and moaning, lie effected all entrance into the house by going through the hack window ; and on tho bed he saw tho decoised, who was in a drunken maudlin state, crying and tossing about. He asked deceased what was tho .mattor,' 'and after be’"g soothed ’ and quietened, she su'd that her hus-b-ind^had-^clonred-o’ut~niul left her; that life was not worth living, and tlnit she wished sho were dead.” On becoming somewhat calmer, deceased asked witness and Constable Scott not to go away, ;as sho was afraid to stay by horself. He assured deceased that tho place would be well looked after, and as ho was leaving the house, deceased .asked him to take no notice of what had occurred as slio was subjpet to hysteria. He coiild soo that tho woman had been drinking, and there were visible proofs of it in tho house.

Constable Macphorson also gave evidence as to having taken charge of the body and conveying it to the morgue.

After a short retirement the jury, returned a verdict of “found drowned.”