HEAD BADLY BATTERED

Evening Star, Issue 19783, 6 February 1928, Page 4

HEAD BADLY BATTERED

BODY FOUND IN HARBOR

SUSPICION OF FOUL PLAY PPbb United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, February 4. His head badly battered, and his clothes saturated with blood, Charles James Mahan, aged fifty, of Tiraaru, was found by the night watchman in Lyttelton Harbor early this morning. It is believed that th© body had been in the water for only a few hours when found at 2 this morning. Mahan had been stock buyer for Borthwick and Co. until recent years, when there came a change in his fortunes, and h© had been employed until a few days ago as a driver for the Alpine Dairy Company, Timaru. He leaves a grown-up family. He left home suddenly on Tuesday for Christchurch. His relatives were worried when no news of him was received, and so came to Christchurch last evening to find him. Mahan’s face, when the body was found, bore terrible wounds. The nose had been broken, and the chin bore a gaping gash. Blood was still gushing from the head, and the coat and shirt were saturated. In his pockets were 3sd in cash and an insurance policy for £3OO, a pair of spectacles, a woman’s silver watch, and a motor driver’s license. The watch had stopped at seven minutes to 10, and it is suggested that about this hour Mahan fell, or was thrown into the harbor. The police have been enquiring into the matter, and it is understood that they believe the man was murdered and robbed on the wharf, from which it is probable that he fell into the water. Shunting operations were in progress, hut they ceased long before 10 o’clock, and at that hour the wharf would be unfrequented. The wharf was clear of train traffic about 8 p.m. Boys were bathing from the swimming steps at Lyttelton, and one of them has given information as to a man answering Mahan’s description being near the swimming steps at . 8 o’clock. The boys were cheeking him. He talked a good deal, mostly nonsense, it seems, and appeared to be “ drunk ” or “dopey,” according to the boys’ account.

The inquest was opened to-day by Mr Young, S.M. The body was identified by Charles Ludlow Mahan, a son of deceased. Witness had last seen his father alive at 1 p.m. Tuesday, when he return! from work for lunch. His father was then in his usual health, and made no mention of leaving home. On Tuesday night they received a telegram at Timaru from Christchurch, stating that he would be home the following night. On Thursday they received at Timaru his mother’s bank book, sent by his father through the post, the address being in his father’s handwriting. Witness became anxious, and came to Christchurch last evening to locate his father. Detective-sergeant Young, conducting the inquiry for the police, said he did not wish to go further with the proceedings at present. The Coroner ordered a post mortem examination of the body, and adjourned the inquest.

INJURIES ONLY FLESH WOUNDS

CHRISTCHURCH, February 5. The suggestion that there has been foul play is largely discounted by the fact that a closer examination of the body is said to have revealed that none of the injuries was sufficient to cause death. They are bad flesh wounds, but

the skull had not been fractured. It is even suggested that the wounds were caused by fish, as a shoal of dogfish were round the body when it was recovered. It is, however, a rare though not unknown occurrence for the body of a person whose death has been caused by drowning to float.