INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2666, 23 October 1882, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest upon the body of James Alexander, who was found drowned in the river Avon on Saturday last, was held this afternoon before Dr. Coward, and a jury of whom Mr B. Bowman was chosen fori man.

Elizabeth Alexander deposed that she was the widow of deceased, and lest saw him alive on Saturday morning between ten and eleven o’clock, when he left home to go to the “ Lyttelton Times” office. He then appeared in good health, since which time she had not seen him alive. The body in tho morgue was that of her husband.

By Sergeant-Major Mason—Deceased was tot ween thirty-two and thirty-tbcco years of age snd was not subject to fits. Dr. Symes deposed that ho had made a post mortem examination of tho body of deceased. The lungs were congested, and Somewhat adherent, the heart war. fatty, the tight ventricle being filled with blood, the stomach wso partially filled with watery fluid, the linings, of which were oongeoted, as also were the intestines ; the liver and kidneys were the reverse of healthy and the brain was congested. There were no external marks of violence. In his opinion the death resulted from drowoing. Constable Flaherty gave evidence relative to finding the body on Saturday afternoon in the Biver Avon, a few chains above the Domain Bridge, as already described, which ho caused to be removed to the morgue.

The jury, after slight deliberation, returned a verdict of “ Found Drowned.”