THE LATE SUDDEN DEATH AT WAINUI.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 231, 4 October 1878, Page 2

THE LATE SUDDEN DEATH AT WAINUI.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sir, —Would you kindly tell me what is the proper course to be taken on the finding of a dead body ? I was always under the impression that on such a case being reported to the police, they were supposed to go to the place and examine it, so as to satisfy themselves that there had been no foul play. I am informed that on the Ist inst., when a case of " found dead" at Wainui was reported to the police at Akaroa ; they refused to go over, and the body had consequently to be removed to the private schoolhouse, between 7 and 8 o'clock at night by some friends of the deceased. I think it-would be well if it were known how such cases are to be dealt with, as the body might have been removed some five hours before, had not there been an impression that such would be a wrong and illegal step to take. Yours, &c, IGNORAMUS. Akaroa, Oct. 3. [With regard to the duties of the police in the circumstances referred to by our correspondent, we do not presume to giv<_ an opinion. It is quite possible that, under the circumstances, and finding that there was no suspicion of foul play, they may have thought their presence uncalled for. As to people leaving the body lying under the impression that its removal would be illegal, we have no hesitation in saying that such an idea is. an utterly erroneous one. In every such case people should be guided by common sense, and do what appears to be most humane and decent. We knew of a case where an enlightened British crowd let a boy drown in four feet of water while they sent for a policeman ! They were possessed by the absurd superstition that iit would be "illegal" to take any steps without the sanction of the official guardian of the peace.—Ed. A. M.]