COOPER SUICDE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 667, 8 October 1891, Page 2

COOPER SUICDE.

THE INQUEST. The body of the late William Cooper, of Waerenga-a hika, waa found vesterday morning by Mr Bennett and Mrs Cooper's brother. It was found near the spot where the hat and pockethand kerchief had been left on Sunday, Sept. 27. The body had caught in a snag. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the hotel, before Mr Booth, Coroner, and the following jury:—B. Brooking, John Breignan (foreman), 0. O’° on .S* McConnell, M. MeKenny, and James Benneu. Constable Farmer conducted the examination tor the police. Mrs Coooper was the first witness examined. She identified the body, ana deposed that on the Sunday morning when Mr Cooper was missed, he had asked her not to go to church—to stop and mind the bar, as he was going for a walk. He said he was going to. take a walk by the river. At lunch time she missed him, and search was instituted. Coroner : What had been his state of mind prior to his death ? Witness : I could not say—he seemed all right. He spoke to me rationally enough. . , Constable Farmer : Was he m his usual health ? ... Witness : If anything I think he was better. , Coroner : Had he been out of good health then ? Witness : Well, you know, he never

was a strong man —never in his life. To the Foreman : He sometimes complained of pains in his head. Edward Bennett, father-in-law of de. ceased, identified the body. At one o’clock, on the 27th, witness had juzt come into the hotel, when the bell, rang for dinner, Mrs Cooper asked him to come and get some dinner. She also sat down to dinner, but in a few minutes said she could not eat—Willie (her husband) was not back. She asked him to go down to the river to look for him. He did so, but was not successful in his search. He afterwards met William Barrows, and after a talk with him, told Mrs Cooper he (witness) would go for the police. He then rode up and gave information to Constable Farmer. William Barrows deposed that on his going to the hotel about 2.30 on the Sunday afternoon, Mrs Cooper asked him if he had seen her husband, and when he replied in the negative she asked him to help in the search. He went along the river bank, and there found the hat, handkerchief, envelope, and postcard produced. He at once returned to the hotel, and told Mr Bennett. Had known Mr Cooper since he had been in the bajf, eight or nine years [Witness was evidently mistaken —Mr Cooper had been in the bay about 14 years.] For the past three or four months deceased had not been in good health —he made no complaint, but seemed to be in bad spirits, and moped about. Deceased had had a short illness some months ago. James Cooper, a lad, nephew of the late William Cooper, deposed that he had seen his uncle at the hotel on the Sunday, sitting on the verandah of the hotel, trying to help on one .of the boots of his youngest boy, Hilliard. Subsequently saw Mr Cooper going along the river bank. Said “ Hello ” to him, but Mr Cooper made no answer. Witness went away, and did not see deceased again. Foreman : What were you doing down there ?

Witness : I was driving a horse into Peka Kere Kere’s yard to catch it. Peka Kere Kere lives near "where I last saw him (deceased). By Juryman : I think it was. 10 0 clock when I saw Mr Cooper lacing up the boy’s boots. That was the first time I had noticed him trying to lace any of th? boys' boots. Constable Farmer gave evidence as to the matter being reported to him between 3 and 4 on Sunday, the 27th, also of his seeing the articles previously produced, and noting the footprints to the water’s edge, these corresponding with other boots of deceased. Search had been continued every day, until it was reported that morning, at 7, that the body had been found. He went down to the river and saw the body floating, face downwards, it being caught by a snag about 150 yards from where he had seen the footprints. The body was then got on to the beach. There appeared to be no marks of violence about it. lie searched the clothes, and found a watch key and a few matches in the pockets. By Coroner : Had not noticed anything unusual about Mr Cooper when he had seen him a couple of days before—• nothing to indicate a morbid mind. One of deceased brothers had told him that deceased had not appeared well for some time, but he knew nothing personally of that nature, Constable Farmer said that was all the evidence he had to offer, but he had been informed that a brother of deceased, now at the Lakes, wished to give evidence. He did not know the nature of the evidence. If the jury wished to hear it, it might be better to adjourn the inquest until the evidence coulq be obtained, Another 0! deceased brothers then spoke to the Oonetable, to the effaot that he did not think the evidence that could be given would affect the matter. The Coroner said that would remove the responsibility. The pointe lot. them to coneider were how deceased met bis death and whether he was oi sound mind. The eyidebCt on the former point was clear, and it they thought the evidence as to deceased's condition prior to death showed that he had not been right in bis mind they should return ? verdict accordingly. After thirteen minutes’ reUrement the jury returned a verdict that deceased had drowned himself while in a state of temporary insanity.