I hereby
certify that on the 28th day of September 1889, I held an inquest of death at Rosewood in the Police
District of Marbury and that the following particulars were then disclosed:-
Name of Deceased : Ernest Grieve
Where found and when : Walloon 17th September 1889
Cause of death : Accidentally drowned. No suspicious circumstances
John Lane Justice - Andrew Grieve on oath says as
follows, “I am a farmer residing at Walloon . I knew the deceased child Ernest Grieve. He was my
grandchild and lived with me at Walloon. I remember the 17th of the present month. About 6pm on
that date I was coming home from work, when I got to the gate of my house, I saw my wife with a
clothes prop lifting the child out of an underground tank in my backyard. I ran to the place and caught
a hold of him and pulled him out. He was quite dead. The tank was about six feet deep and had
about four feet of water in it. It is about ten feet from my house. It is protected on top
with slabs laid loose which were sometimes shifted for the purpose of getting at the water. I
reported the matter to the police at Ipswich the same evening and got an order for burial on
the following day . A constable came from Ipswich and saw the body.” Andrew Grieve x his mark.
Jane Grieve on oath says as follows. “I am the wife of Andrew Grieve the last witness. I knew the deceased
child Ernest Grieve, he was my grandchild. I remember the 17th of the present month. I was out on the farm that day.
I returned home between five and six o‘clock. From something my daughter Annie said
to me when I came home I got a clothes prop and searched the underground tank and found the child
in it. As I was lifting him out my husband came up and took him out. He was quite dead. I tried no
means to restore life as I could see plainly it would be useless. I saw the child alive about two o‘clock
the same day. He was then alright.” Her signature.
Annie Grieve on oath says as follows.
“I am the daughter of Andrew Grieve and reside with him at Walloon. I knew the deceased child Ernest
Grieve. I am his Aunt. I remember the 17th of the present month. I was at home in charge of
the house on that day. The deceased child was with me . He was about the house by himself. I was not
taking particular notice of him. He was four years and nine months old. About four o‘clock I missed
him. I walked all about the place but could not see him. I sent my sister to a farmer’s place about
a quarter of a mile from our place to see if he was there. He was in the habit of going there.
Between five and six o‘ clock my mother came home. I said to her “Did you see Ernest?” She said “No,
I did not.” I said “I sent Harriet to Brasseys to look for him.” When I told my mother he was
missing she got a clothes prop and searched the underground tank and found him. Annie Grieve.