THE DROWNING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1085, 31 December 1903, Page 4

THE DROWNING CASE.

THE INQUEST

An inquest on the body of Patrick Monaghan, tound in the river on Tuesday night, was held in the Britieh Empire Hotel at 11 a.m. yesterday, before MrJ. W. Bright, J.P., and the following jurymen: Luke Humphreys (foreman), E. Richardson, Wm, Rodgers, R. Jones, Wm. Burton, and Thos. Scott.

The jurymen retired for a few minutes to the morgue to view tho body of deceased, accompanied by the ActingCoroner and polico. Upon their roturn Sergeant Siddells, who represented tho police, called evidence. Cornelius Neenan, licensee of the Ormond Hotel, sworn, stated that he had viewed the body now lying in the morgue, and identified it as that of Patrick Monaghan, who had lately been in his employ. He had last seen deceased about 5 p.m. on the 24th December at Ormond. He came to town to spend his Christmas holidays. He was in good health, tho only thing apparently the matter with him

was a slight scratch on his ankle. His age would be between 65 and 70. He had been addicted to drink. A very little drink affected him, but he had not been drinking lately. Gave him £1 to come to town. He was a pensioner, and received a small sum regularly. Witness had no doubt of deceased being Monaghan. Lewis Higham, employee of the Gisborne Harbor Board, sworn, stated that he was fishing with a friend on the breakwater on Tuesday night. Noticed the body of a dead man floating alongside the breakwater. Could not say in which direction the body was floating. Made it secure and sent information to the police, and assisted them to convey the body to, f.Vva -ronvcrnn

the morgue. Alexander Keefer, land agent, Gisborne, sworn, stated he knew Patrick Monaghan for the last 19 years. Last saw him on Christmas Eve about half-past seven at Miller’s corner. He was apparently under the influence of drink, and appeared excited, caused by the tune “ Killarney,” which the Salvation Army was playing. Mr Bright: Is " Killarney ” such an exciting refrain. Witness took Monaghan away some yards, and asked him to go away like a good man. Left him, and did not see him again. Believe the body now lying at the Morgue to be that of Patrick Monaghan. “I may say, in justice to his memory,” concluded witness, “ that deceased was never the same man sinoo the death of his wife.”

Sergeant Siddells atatod that while on duty at 8 o’clock on Tuesday night information was brought that a body had been found in the water at the breakwater. With Detective Nixon had the body removed to the morgue. Ascertained tho body to be that of Patrick Monaghan. Upon searching the body discovered 15s in tho pockot. The body was fully dressed, and appeared to have been lying in the mud. It had evidently been lying in the water some days. Had an enquiry made where and when Monaghan was last seen alive. Deceased had not been seen sinoe the night of the 24th December. Also made enquiries if Monaghan had been seen drunk in any of the hotels on Christmas Eve, but up to the present no information had been received. He was a very old man, and helpless when under the influence of liquor. A few months ago the police rescued him from the Waikanae stream, into which he had wandered on his way to the railway station. Knowing the mau, Sergeant Siddells said he was of opinion that deceased had wandered down to the river bank to sleep, and by some means had got into the river. There was not the slightest suspicion of foul play in connection with his death.

Acting-Coroner : Contlemon, you have heard the evidence. We have made it as short as possible. There has been no evidence to show how deceased came by his death. 1 think the conclusion Sergeant Siddells arrived at is the correct one, that deceased went to sleep by the river and fell into tho water. It is for you to say, gentlemen, by the evidence before you, how deceased came by his death. If your views coincide with those of Sergeant Siddells, it is your duty to return an open verdict,' which in' this case would be “ Found Drowned."

After conferring for some minutes, the jury returned a verdict of " Found Drowned.”