INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2185, 25 February 1881, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held in the Clarendon Hotel yesterday, before Dr. Prankish, coro'ner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Jtt» Preston was ohosen foreman, touching tne death of Emily J. Moore, a little girl, wno was drowned in the river Avon during last week. The jury having retired to view the body, on their return the following evidence was taken : Fanny Moore, mother of deceased, deposed that she last saw her child about two o'clock on Sunday, 13th, at the dinner table, from which she left the house direct, and witness never saw her alive again. By Sergeant Morice—lt wis at my sister's home I last saw deceased. My sinter's house is near the river. I have had occasion to warn my child not to swing on trees overbunging the river. Saw the body of deceased when it was taken out of the river ; could not recognise it as that of my child, but recognised tho clothing as that belonging to her, and which she had on when she went away on the date named. Since the child was missed, a vigorous search had been made for her, and a description of her dress was given to the police. By a juror—My child was eight years eld on the 6th of last January. James Moore, father of the deceased, said he recognised the body taken from the river, and the subject of this inquest, as that of his obild. He oould not identify the features, owing to decomposition, but had no doubt about it being the body of his child. Kerl Joseph Bruce, fifteen years of age, said he knew the deceased. Knew Mr Moore's house. He lived close by. Saw her lost alive the Sunday before last, between four and five o'clock in the aftercoon. Saw her near the footbridge opposite Ward's brewery. Bhe was near to the river, about a yard from it, standing on the bank. A young woman was standing alongside of her. By Sergeant Morice—Do not know thatthe young woman and deceased were talking. They were standing close together. Deceased was throwing sticks into the river for a dog to fetch. Did not see thb deceased alive after that. Tho olothes on the body of deceased were similar to those worn by the little girl Moore when I last saw her. I am sure it is tho child.

Constable William Hill, stationed at Bingsland, deposed to finding the body of deceased in the Biver Avon, to the west of the boatshed and the footbridge. If the body bad fallen into the river at the footbridge it could not have reached the place where I found it. To get there it would have to have been carried up stream. Found the body clothed and floating in the water, with the head down stream. Examined the body; found a bruise on the right cheek and blood iisuing from the nose. Found no other marks on the body. There are willows opposite the house ef Mr Moore.

Dr. Townend, duly qualified medical praetioner, deposed that he hsd made a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased ; found the clothing intact, and no marks of violence on any part of the body. The internal organs generally were in a healthy condition. Should judge that the child died from drowning.

By a Juror—l found no appearance to support the evidence of the constable as to blood oozing from the nose. With a temperature Buch as we have experienced reoently it is bo extraordinary thing that a body should be so much decomposed in the time. This concluded the evidence.

The jury, after a brief consideration, returned a verdiot to the effect " That the deceased, Emily J. Moore, was found drowned, but that how or by what means she became drowned there was not sufficient evideaoe to determine.'