CORONER’S INQUEST

Dunstan Times, Issue 1019, 28 October 1881, Page 3

CORONER’S INQUEST

An inquest was hel l on Wednesday afternoon last, in the Geelong Ho el, Alexandra, before Maj >r Reddle, Coroner, on the body of John Price, which had been found in the Molyneux at the Fourteen Mile Beach. Hugh M ‘Kinlay deposed ; I Uve'at Albert Town, and knew deceased (John Price) ; I have seen his dead body here to-day. I last seen deceased on Saturday evening, the 2nd inst., at about 9 o’clock ; he was perfectly sober, and there was nothing strange about him. He had been working for me on the farm at Mount Barker. About half-past 9,3deceasedj went to the window of the room in l which my step-sons slept. One of the boys afterwards came to me and told me that deceased had bid them goodbye, and saying that Jack Price is no more. In consequence of what the boy told me, I went to the room decease I occupied, and found all the clothes he had been wearing during the day, with the exception of a strap. As soon as I could dress myself—when I wus called I was just turning in —I went down towards the punt across the Clutha : I saw deceased standing on the punt. I said, “ Jack, don’t be a fool ; come here, I want to speak to you.” Ho said, “ Good-bye, all," and jumped into the Clutha. I was on the punt within two seconds, and looked into the river to see if I could see him hanging on to one of the painters, but I did not see him again. I had seen nothing strange in deceased’s manner of late ; he was very much in debt all over the country. I think deceased was 33 years old, a Londoner, and a single man so far as 1 know.

By a juror: Deceased was of temperate habits ; he got into debt through over-spe-culation in mining He was in the prospecting claim at Panama Creek, Lake Hawea. I never heard him threaten to do away with himself on account of his debts.

Citing Hung, a Chinaman residing at the Fourteen Mile Beach, Molyneux, deposed : That on last Friday morning 1 saw the bo ly of deceased in the river. It was caught b ilwcen some stones in shallow water. I was too frightened to touch it. I got a European neighbor to write a letter to the poll ;e. Constable M ‘Lend, stationed at Alexandra, deposed : Oa Saturday last I receive I information that the dead body of a man was lying on the Fourteen Mile Beach. I proceeded there r.t once, and had it conveyed to the lock-up. It has been recognised as the body of John Price. It bad on an under-flannel, an outer shirt, and a pair of socks. The two hands were tied together with a strap. There were marks of teeth on the ends of the strap, as if deceased had tied it together with his teeth. The middle finger of each hand had a tattooed ring on it. There were some tattoo marks on the right arm. The jury, after short consideration, brought in a verdict that deceased drowned imself in the Clutha, bat in what state of mind there was no evidence to show. •