BODY IN RIVER No Evidence Of Assault

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 1

BODY IN RIVER No Evidence Of Assault

Police inquiries into the death of John Herman Cook, a 70-year-old retired fisherman, whose naked body was found in the Grey river on Sunday morning, had revealed no evidence that he was the victim of an assault, said Detective-Inspector M. T. Churches last evening.

Yesterday, a police search party from Greymouth found a black bush singlet on the beach at Point Elizabeth, three miles north of Greymouth. “It is the same type of singlet that Mr Cook was

known to be wearing when last seen alive early on Saturday morning,” Mr Churches said.

The police have been searching for Mr Cook’s clothing since his body was found. The finding of the singlet is evidence supporting the theory that his body was stripped of its clothing in the turbulent water at the entrance of the Grey river. The body was found in a wave trap on the Cobden side of the river mouth.

Still missing are Mr Cook's slip-on shoes, his green woollen socks, grey sports trousers, light-woollen, green tartan shirt, and heavy tweed sports coat, dark grey with a white fleck. Mr Cook was seen on the quay shortly after midnight on Friday. The police yesterday obtained evidence that he was seen later than this, about 12.20 a.m. on Saturday, on the corner of Albert and Mackay streets. Mr Cook suffered some superficial facial injuries. These could have been caused while his body was in the water before it was found about 7.30 a.m. on Sunday. He also suffered what the police describe as “severe internal injuries.” Tomorrow, the Christchurch pathologist, Dr. P. A. E. Smith, who performed the post-mortem examination of Mr Cook, will confer with C. 1.8. detectives in Greymouth.