INQUEST AT LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1730, 5 September 1879, Page 3

INQUEST AT LYTTELTON.

An inquest on the body of Captain Preston, late master of the brigantine Nightingale, was held by Dr, Coward, the coroner, yesterday afternoon, at the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, The jury, having chosen Mr Thomas Graham foreman, were sworn, and retired to view the body, after which the following was taken: Robert Pitcaithly said ho was in the employ of Messrs Cuff and Graham. He knew the deceased very well. He was master of the brigantine Nightingale, owned by Cuff and Graham. On the morning of the 24th J nly some man camo into the office and said he had picked the boat up outiide the breakwater, which belonged to the brigantine. He then went off to the vessel, went all through her, but couldn’t find any trace of the captain. The deceased was ship keeper; no other hands were employed, nor was anyone on board. He found a kit and some things which deceased had bought the night before, in the boat. He reported the circumstances to the police. Since then he had, with the police, made search for the deceased by dragging in the harbor. He next saw deceased on Wednesday, and identified as that of George Preston. Henry Keane deposed—He was the proprietor of the Royal Hotel, Lyttelton. He did not know the deceased personally, but did by description. He remembered seeing him on the night of July 23rd last. He was ia the Royal Hotel, and left there between nine and ten o’clock at night. He seemed quite sober at the time. He heard next day of deceased being missing. He believed the body found on Wednesday was that of George Preston. When at the hotel deceased was in company with Captain Jorgensen, and left the hotel with him he believed. James Grubb sworn, deposed—He was a shipwright. He was on the top of the road on Wednesday morning last, when he saw the body in the water, near the bathing shed. He got a boat and landed the body on the beach. Mr David stayed with it while he went for the police. It was floating head up and feet down. He identified the body as being that of George Preston. Constable Moutray said—From information received he went to Sandy Bay and found tho body on the beach and took charge of it. He searched the body and found a gold chain, a silver watch, a meerschaum pipe, some keys, and a purse containing £3, and in other pockets found 13s Id. He brought tho body to the morgue. There being nothing to show how the body got into the water an open verdict, "Found Drowned,” was returned.