INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2021, 16 August 1880, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, on Saturday afternoon, by tho coroner and a jury, of whom Henry Keane was chosen foreman, concerning the death of Joseph Prideaux. William Beecroft, sworn, deposed—l am night watchman at tho graving dock. On the 13th instant, at 6 a.m. I was going round, and I saw something lying between the shoot and the rocks. Saw it was a man’s body, I called to him, hut got no reply, and after touching him, saw he was dead. I called Edward Robinson and John Fraser, men employed at tho works, who came to witness that ho was dead. I then assisted the police in taking him to the morgue. I was round at half-past eleven at night, but did not see the body, nor did I hear any cry. Would have heard if any had been made. Joel Harris, boarding house keeper.— Deceased slept at my house on Saturday night, and on Sunday he went to Christchurch. On Monday night he came back and wanted a bed. I found out when he came in that he was drunk. I gave him a bed and that night ho kept all in tho house awake. Next morning I cautioned him that if he came to the house drunk again he would not be taken in. On Thursday night he came at about eleven o’clock and knocked at tho door. In reply to a question I put he said he was quite sober. When I let him in I found he was drunk, and I then refused him accommodation. I did not see him afterwards. —To the Foreman: He had no drink at my house. I don’t sell drink.

Samuel Dorbidge, inspector of tho dock works for the Harbor Board—While returning home from tho late train, about 11.35 p.m. on Thursday, I passed a man much resembling the deceased. He appeared to be very tipsy. Nest morning I recognised the body of deceased as the person I had passed. When I saw him he was standing about tho middle of the road, or rather staggering. He did not speak. He was then distant about 500 yards from the scene of the accident. The cliff, on which there were marks showing where deceased bad fallen, is about 50ft high. It is fenced off from the road. John Qlasson —I knew dereaeed for about fourteen weeks. Was working with him. Had seen him for a week before the accident. He had been drinking heavily. On Thursday I saw him at half-past seven in the evening. Ho was drunk then. He had a sister in Port Chalmers or Dunedin. A verdict of “ Found Dead” was returned.