Supposed Suicide.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 665, 29 September 1891, Page 3

Supposed Suicide.

A sensation was caused in town on Sunjay on the receipt of news of the supposed drowning of Mr Wm. Cooper, of Waerenga-a hika. Word was received that the body had actually been recovered, but this wag subsequently proved to have been a wrong impression created by an excited person. Mr Cooper, who is landlord of the Waerenga-a-hika Hotel, appears to have pone cut about 10 in the morning, but hie absence was not particularly noticed until the time for luncheon came round. As he did not come in at the usual time for his meal, search was made for him. A casual search failing, apprehension was at once created in the minds of persons, who took an ominous view of the circumstance from the morbid condition in which Mr Cooper was known to have been for some months past. It was late in the afternoon before information was conveyed to Constable Farmer, but the mysterious disappearance created much excitement at the little township. The tearchera got traces of Mr Cooper, as if he had gone down the road towards Toroa, and then walked through the paddocks near the Maori whares until he got to the riverbank. His footprints could be plainly distinguished ; and! then at the edge of the river, near a spot where there is remarkably deep water, the footprints became lost, and a hat, pocket handkerchief, and post card (recognised as belonging to the missing man), were found. The river was in a swollen state from the recent rains, and a swift current was running. Darkness setting in further search had to be put off until yesterday morning At daybreak the investigation was continued. The Maoris had on* a canoe, and the most likely means were taken to recover the body if the man had really been drowned. A great crowd had collected, and much anxiety was evinced as to the fate of the missing men. His brothers especially were greatly affected by the sad news, and Mrs Cooper was in a hysterical state.

A Standard reporter who went out to Waerenga-a-hika on Sunday, gives the following fuller particulars :— Mr Cooper left the hotel shortly af:er 10 a.m. He was then apparently in good spirits, and meeting several of his friends he spoke in his usual manner. Afterwards he went through the paddocks towards the river. Not appearing before dinner, Mrs Cooper became anxious and search was made. About two o’clock, as Mr Burrows was walking along the bank of the river, about three quarters of a mile from the hotel, at the back of Peka Kerekere's house, he discovered a light felt hat, pocket handkerchief (which had the initials of Mr Cooper), and also a post card. A stick was laid across them, with, it is supposed, the indention of preventing them blowing away. Information was immediately brought into Waeranga ahika, and the police were sent for, Constable Farmer Ormond . n terwards. G his arrival several of the residents who _ had aware of the mysterious disappearance, proceeded to the spot with the Constable. There were two footprints leading to the river (Toroa), alongside of which were the articles above mentioned, and the prints, going right to the water’s edge, in every way resembled what would be made by the boots that Mr Cooper had been wearing that morning. The mark foot was sunk p»etty deep into the sand, ag though deceased had taken a spring into the river. On the arrival of the party at the spot Mr George Walls volunteered to dive, and if possible recover i«« body* 0° diving down he found about ’Mt the depth, the bank sloping without any shelf, but he could not find any trace of a body. Mr Walls gays there is a very strong undercurrent, and through the late fresh the water was very muddy. The place is about one of the deepest in the river, and it is a favorate locality for bathers. On the previous afternoon Mr J. Thomson, <enr., had occasion to go down to the river fora bottle of water, and he then said the deoeased walking up and down along the ♦i? C t th® r * ver * n,3a r *be place at which the bat was found He appeared to be greatly disturbed at seeing Mr Thomson, and Immediately went away. Mr William Cooper, or as he was popularly known, “ Willie ” Cooper, was a general favourite with the public. He had long been a resident of Gisborne, having come from the Wairarapa district. He was first barman for his brother James, who was proprietor of the hotel, but later on po himself took it over. He entered the marriage state about seven years ago. For about six months past a cloud appeared to have settled over the usually sunny countenance of Mr Cooper, and he complained much at times of violent headaches. The dragging of the river continued all day without success. The missing man’s life is insured In the Australian Mutual Provident Society for £5OO, *