DEATH FROM DROWNING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12541, 12 May 1915, Page 6

DEATH FROM DROWNING.

STARTLING EVIDENCE AT INQUEST.

SUGGESTION OF FOUL PLAY

Fev. I'isuss Association. Auckland, May 11

The adjoined inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death ot Frederick Allen Clay, who was found dead in a creek at Hikutaia on Friday. April 23. was continued at Hikutaia- today. When 'found the deceased had a heavy stone tied round Kis neck. Air Joseph Nathan (coroner) conducted the inquest, and Mr E. C'iendon represented the relatives of the deceased. Dr Couzeus said that he had made an external examination of the body, and had djscovered no signs of violence. Ho considered that death was due to drowning. "William James Boon (deceased .s partner) known in Hikutaia as "W. J. Thomas, stated that he came to New Zealand in October, 1913. He had lived in a number of towns, including Christchurch, Wellington, Hastings, and Auckland. While in Auckland witness advertised for a partner to inirclia.se a farm. Clav applied, and they purchased a farm at, Hikutaia. The deceased at that time had about £l3O. and witness had £139. They took possession of the farm in June. 1914. In ; January last they had a credit of £54, and now had a credit, balance of £4. The shortage of cash led to rows, and thev decided to insure the liou.se and burn it down to get the money. Clay went and insured the house with the Jtoval Insurance Company for £l5O. Tho house was not inspected by the agent. The house was also insured by the mortali gee tor £'2so. in the South British office. Eventually deceased refused to burn the house, and the plan was not carried out. Witness last saw deceased on the morning of Tuesday, April 20, at breakfast. After breakfast witness went to work on one portion of the farm. The deceased was at the- house. The deceased did not come home that evening, and witness started io make inquiries. He called on his neighbors, and they had not seen anything of deceased. Further .search was made on the Wednesday, and on the Thursdav witness informed the police. A party of settlers and the police searched on the Thursday, and on Friday the bodv was discovered in a creek running through their farm. The place, ■where the bodv was found was from 200 to 300 vards from the liou.se, and the pool wa's about Bft to 10ft deen. There was a stone about 251b to 401b' weight tied to deceased's neck with a rone. ; The police produced a- letter signed bv Clay, which he gave to a neighbor on Januarv 10. ,The letter wis enclosed in an envelope, and was addressed to E. J. G. Scott-. The following was written on the envelope:—"From F. A. Ci-iy. to be returned unopened when 1 vie*!" The letter was as follows : —"F. '. Clav—Wish this note to bear evidence that if anything happens to me it will likelv be bv my partner, known as W. J. Thomas, as he has on several occasions said lie would take my life. This morning lie said he would shoot nic I therefqre deposit this with Air tWtt." The note was signed by F. A. Clav. The witness denied ever making a tlireat to take deceased's life.

In replv to Sergeant "Wohlmann, witness said" l)c changed his name to Thomas because his real name, Boon, had been ridiculed. The witness was put through a- searching cross-examin-ation by ili- Clendon. He said he did nofc consider burning eloign a house t.i secure the insurance a- very serious crime. He considered that the deceased rr.ifimittcd suicide, and said that the deceased was always worrying about the want of money, and was: eonthrualTv worrvinc: and quarrelling about tiie want of cash. He said that he was alwavs on friend:!v terms w.th Scott. Witness, made several statements which- were different from statements made and .signed by him at tlu\ opeuing of the inquest. E. J. G. Scott, a farmer, save evidence as to receiving the letter Mom deceased. He aho swore that Boon, or Thomas as he knew him. had said to that lie would lc;!l Cl.iy ant, throw him into the river. Evidence was also given by »!'. Summers.' vrbo said that deceased -Iw-d told him if he srot into trouble lie would hang himself. At, this stagp the inquest was adjourned- j'c-r :i week.