DEATH.
DIPPIE. — On December 12, at Paretai (accidentally drowned), Alexander Stuart, dearly beloved son of Peter and Olive Dippie; aged 2 1/2 years. Deeply mourned. -Clutha Leader, 16/12/1919.
DROWNING FATALITY.
AT RIVERSIDE.
A sad drowning fatality occurred at Riverside about midday on Friday, when the infant son of Mr and Mrs Peter Dippie was found drowned in an arm of the Molyneux River about five chains from the residence of his parents. It appears that the child as usual was playing about the house just before midday, and was missed by his mother about 12 o'clock. The mother made a search, but could not find the missing boy, and called the aid of her husband, who was working in an adjoining paddock. After a short search the body of the unfortunate child was found floating face downwards in an arm of the river. Artificial respiration was tried, but without result. The water at the place where the foody was found was fairly deep.
Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents, who are well known in the district. The funeral took place to the Balclutha cemetery on Sunday.
THE INQUEST.
An inquiry was held at the house of Mr Peter Dippie, of Paretai, on Saturday afternoon, into the circumstances surrounding the death by drowning of his infant son, Alexander Stuart Dippie. Mr H. H. Inglis was acting coroner, and the jury consisted of Messrs George T. Dent (foreman), Frederick Plew, Thomas H. Dale, and Frederick R. H. Hall. Constable Almond represented the police.
The first witness called was the deceased's father, Peter Dippie, who identified the body as that of his son, Alexander Stuart, aged two years and six months. He last saw deceased alive at 11 a.m. on the l2th (Friday). He left him in the yard adjoining the house. The next time he saw him the child was floating in the water of an arm of the Molyneux River, face downwards. This was about 10 minutes past 1 o'clock. The distance from the house to where the body was found would be about five chains. He removed the body from the water, but the child was then quite dead. With the aid of Mr Hall he tried artificial respiration, but without result. The child was healthy. He sent for Dr Stenhouse after trying artificial respiration. The deceased was in the habit of playing about the outbuildings and in the yard.
Olive Marion Dippie, the deceased child's mother, deposed that she last saw deceased alive about 20 minutes to 12 on the Friday. He was then playing with the dog outside the window. She missed him shortly afterwards, and searched for him for about 10 minutes, when she found him floating face downwards in an arm of the Molyneux River. Her husband was a short distance away from her, and she drew his attention to the child. It was approximately half an hour from the time she saw deceased outside the window until she saw him in the water. He had never previously wandered from the house, and had been in the habit of playing about the garden of the yard.
To the Foreman: After searching by herself she sent for her husband, who was working in a paddock, and they joined in searching.
Dr Andrew Stenhouse, Balclutha, deposed that he received a message at his house to go to Mr Dippie's residence at Paretai. He was absent when the message arrived. He went down in the evening and examined the bank close to where the body was found. He saw footprints of the bare feet of a child leading straight into the water at a place where there was considerable depth. He examined the body, which was quite rigid, the face pale and peaceful, and no signs of violence or bruises except two half-healed scratches on the left eyelids. The appearances were those of a body drowned. There was no sign of any disease or illness or accident. In his opinion death was due to drowning.
To a juryman: The child may have been dead for six hours when he saw him. There was no sign of any struggle. It was about 6.30 pm. when he got to Mr Dippie's, and the body was then quite cold. This closed the evidence.
The coroner then asked the jury for their finding, and remarked that the evidence went to show that it was an unfortunate accident. He extended to the bereaved parents the sympathy of himself and jury.
The jury returned the following verdict: — "That the deceased, Alexander Stuart Dippie, met his death by being accidentally, drowned in the Clutha but there was no evidence to show how he got into the water.'' -Clutha Leader, 16/12/1919.
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