Mysterious Drowning Case.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 109, 5 November 1896, Page 2

Mysterious Drowning Case.

Per Press Association. "Wellington, Nov. 3. At the inquest; on the body of Margaret Robertson, ioumd drowned with a coat of an officer of the Unions Company's fleet on her, the post mortem proved that death resulted from drowning. The evidence showed that Alfred Phillips, chief officer of the Penguin, was in her company from 7.30 to 10 on Sunday night when he parted with her at the gangway o f the vessel as she refuspd to allow him to sco her home. The purser Stevens deposed he saw her on deck with Phillips, and at 10 o'clock beard him bid her good night. Phillips then joined witness and remained in ihe latter's cabin till nearly midnight, when he turned in. Mr Connor, first mate of the vessel, said about 1.30 o'clock oa Monday morning he heard woman scream, but thinkiLg it was an accident took no further noticeIn his evidence Phillips said he last saw deceased at the gangway on Sunday night. She appeared then as usual and not excited, and their was nothing between them to make her despondent. She, had, however, complained of feeling miserable. On Monday morning he first missed his coat and in searching for it discovered the remainder of her clothes, which he sent to her friends and asked for his owe to be returned. His coiit must, have; been removed from his cabin between 10.30 and 11 o'clock on Sunday night, or while he was asleepHad he suspected anything wrong he would have informed the police and could not put forth any theory for deceased's action. The Coroner, in summing np, said the evidence was unsatisfactory inasmuch as there was nothing to show how Robertson met her death except by drowning. He failed to see any inaccuracy in the evidence given by Phillips, but it did appear strange that the man who heard the scream did not further enquire into the canse than he did. He added that there did not appear to have been any foal play. After a short deliberation the jnry returned a verdict of found drowned.