A LYTTELTON TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1928, Page 1

A LYTTELTON TRAGEDY

-MAN’S BODY FOUND IN HARBOUR (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.") CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 4. Charles James Mahan, aged 50, of Timaru, who found' by the nightwatchman in Lytelton Harbour early this morning. It is believed the body had been in the water only a few hours when found at two o’clock this morning. Malian had been a stock buyer for Borthwiek and Coy. until recent years, when there came a change in his fortunes and he had been employed until a few days ago as a driver for the Alpine Dairy Coy., Timaru. He leaves a grown up family. He left home suddenly on Tuesday for Christchurch. His relatives were worried when no news of him was received, and his son came to Christchurch last evening to find him. Malian’s lace, when tile body was found, bore terrible wounds. The nose had been broken and file chinbore a gaping gash. Blood was still oozing from the head, and his coat

and shirt were saturated. In his pockets were threepence halfpenny in cash, an insurance policy for £3OO, a pair of spectacles, a woman’s silver watch, and a motor driver’s license. The watch had stopped at seven minutes to ten, and it is suggested that about this hour Malian fell, or was thrown into the harbour.

The polico have been enquiring into the matter, and it is understood that they believe that tho man was murdered and robbed on the wharf, from which it is probable that lie fell into the water. Shunting operations were in progress hut they ceased long before ten o’clock, and at that hour the wharf would be unfrequented. The wharf was clear of train traffic about 8 p.m.

Some boys were bathing from the swimming steps at Lyttelton and one of them has given information as to a man answering to Mahan's description being near the swimming steps at eight o’clock. The boys were cheeking him. He talked a good deal, mostly nonsense, it seems, and lie appeared to he “drunk or dopey,” accordinig to the boys’ account.

An inquest was opened to-day by Air Young, S.M. The body was identified by Charles Ludlow Afnhan, son of the deceased. Witness said he had last seen his father alive at 1 p.m. on Tuesday when he returned from work for lunch. His father was then in his usual health and made no mention of leaving home. On Tuesday night, they received a telegram, at Timaru from Christchurch, stating that he would he home the following night. On Thursday they received at Timaru his mother's bank hook, sent by the father through the post, tho address being in his father’s handwriting. Witness became anxious and came to Christchurch last evening to locate his father. Detective-Sergeant Young, conducting the enquiry for the police, said he did not wish to go further with the, proceedings at present.

Tin' Coroner ordered n post mortem examination of the hotly, and adjourned the inquest. ROBBER Y SUSPECTED. CITETSTCHURCH, Feb. 5. "When the liodv of Malian was discovered by Samuel Gilray, a. nightwatchman. blood was gushing from tin; man’s head and bis coat and shirt were saturated. The police believe that robbery was tlie motive and that ilie robbery was committed late on Friday evening. SUGGESTION' OF FOUL PLAY. DISCOUNTED BY WOUNDS. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 5. The suggestion that there has been foul play is largely discounted by the fact that a' closer examination of the body is said to have revealed dint none of the injuries are sufficient to cause death. They are bad flesh wounds, but the skull lias not been fractured. It is even suggested that the wounds have been caused by fish, as a shoal of dog fish were round the body when recovered. It is, however, a rare though not unknown occurrence for the body of a person whose death is caused by drowning to float,