FOUND DROWNED.
GORE, April 22.
John Thomas Tretheway, a single man, aged 37, was found drowned in the Waikaia River this morning, close to Waikaia. The deceased was subject to epileptic fits, and when last seen last night he was going towards the river, accompanied by a dog. -Ashburton Guardian, 22/4/1914.
FOUND DROWNED.
the waikaia fatality.
An inquest was held at Waikaia yesterday morning on the body of John Thomas Tretheway, who was found drowned in the Waikaia River the previous day, before Mr John Milne (acting-coroner) and a jury consisting of Messrs John Shanks (foreman), B. Lawrence, Jas. Haggart, T. Hill, H. Wilkie, and Jas. Sproat.
E. Vial (storekeeper, a brother-in-law of the deceased, Waikaia) said that he last saw deceased about 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday, in Newburn Street. About 7 p.m. he was informed by the mother of deceased (Mrs Tretheway) that deceased had been missing for about an hour. He then organised a search party which searched various places in the town and the banks of the river until midnight, but found no trace of deceased. The search was resumed at daylight and after Mr John McCissock and he had travelled along the bank of the river for about 440 yds they found the body of the deceased caught in a fence which jutted into the river. He placed the body in the charge of Constable Schruffer. The last time he spoke to deceased was on the afternoon of April 21, when he appeared to be very nervous. Tretheway had been subject to epileptic fits and had had a severe attack on Sunday last. He consulted Dr Rogers at Gore on Monday. Deceased told his mother before he left home that he intended to fetch some horses. Witness thought that it was possible that deceased might have taken a fit and wandered into the river.
John McCissock gave corroborative evidence relative to the finding of the body in the river. He said he had known deceased for about 15 years.
Thomas Mulcahy, who is casually employed as a barman at the Empire Hotel, said that he last saw deceased at 5.40 on on Tuesday, April 21, but only passed the time of day with him. He had supplied deceased with a medium glass of beer at the Empire Hotel earlier in the day when he appeared to be perfectly sober but somewhat quiet in manner. Deceased did not seem to be in such good health as usual during the past 12 months. He told witness about a week ago that he had received a kick from a horse and felt a pain in his chest.
P Ford (licensee of the Empire Hotel) said that he knew deceased intimately. He last saw him for a few minutes before 4 p.m. on April 21. Deceased had only had a small glass of beer that evening.
Constable Schruffer said that at 8:30 p.m. on April 21 he was informed that deceased was missing and that a search was being made. He joined the searchers and was later informed that footprints were discovered on the bank of the river. He examined the footprints and found that the toes were pointing to the river. There were also the footprints of a dog close by. The river was running bank to bank. The search was continued until midnight, but no trace of deceased was found. It was arranged that the search should he continued in the morning and shortly after daybreak W. McCissock informed him that the body of deceased had been discovered in the Waikaia River. He immediately proceeded to the spot where deceased had been found and examined the body, finding no marks of violence. He found the sum of 5s 3d and a few receipts in the pockets. The body was removed to the residence of the mother of deceased. He last saw deceased on Monday evening, April 20.
William Tretheway (Mataura) said that he was a brother of deceased who was born at Waikaia and was 37 years of age.
The following verdict was returned, "That John Thomas Tretheway was found drowned, but there was no evidence of how he got into the river." -Mataura Ensign, 24/4/1914.
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