CORONER’S INQUEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 2

CORONER’S INQUEST.

The inquest touching the death of John Rail, wiio was picked out of the river oil Friday night, between the barque Constance Craig and the wharf, was conducted at tile Courthouse o n Saturday by the Coroner, Mr. W. A. Barton. Sergeant Williams represented the police. The following jury was empanelled : —Messrs. Henry Miller (foreman), Arthur Savage, A. Gunn, Cecii Brown, Walter Pattison, William Hargreaves. After viewing the body the Sergeant called George McLachlan, night watchman for the Sliecpfarmers’ Co., who deposed that at the wharf about 7.20 p.m. on Friday liis attention was drawn to some sound of struggling in the water. Went to the spot and saw some black object, hut upon looking again it had disappeared. A little further up the wharf lie found a black felt liat. Telephoned to the police, and upon their arrival a search resulted in finding blood marks on the fender of the Constance Craig, and below, on a stringer of the wharf, foot and hand marks were observed. They had the appearance of being caused by the struggling of a man. Further search was prosecuted, and about an hour later Captain Sewell, in a row boat, found the bodv 12 or 13 yards lower down. Henry Airev” barman at the British Empire Hotel, identified the body lying at the Morgue as that of John Rait. Saw deceased about 6 o’clock on Friday evening at the bar, and lie asked for a drink. _ Asked if he had any money. He said he had not.. Thereupon witness refused to serve him. He appeared to be sober, and showed no signs of drink. After mumbling some remark he left the hotel. During the morning Rait bought a bottle of draught beer. -This was. the, first time witness had seen lilmTor sirree niouLiis: ;

By the foreman: Rait was dressed shabbily, hut he had not been “on the spree.”

Constable Irwin stated that he went to the wharf when telephoned for, and after about ail hour’s search Captain Sewell picked out the body of deceased, which witness recognised as that of John Rait. Dr. Morrison was summoned, and ho pronounced life to be extinct. There were no marks of violence on the body. Had seen deceased during the last few davs about town, and thought he w:as recovering from a drinking bout. The Coroner regretted that this was the second inquest in a week’s time, and this also was the result of drink. It was a pity that after such examples others were found doing the same thing. It did not appear to deter others at all. It was very sad indeed.

Without retiring the jury returned a. verdict that deceased was found drowned at the wharf, there being no evidence to show how ho came there.