INQUEST.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 6

INQUEST.

Ah inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon i at the Nag's Head, before Dr Johnston, and a full jury, touching the death of Charles Bull, whose body was found drowned yesterday morning. Mr R. Port was chosen foreman." Dr France on being examined deposed : I was called to see deceased about eight o'clock this morning. The body and limbs were rigid j the face was much bruised, but evidently of a post mortem nature, from rolling on the beaoh, and otherwise showed indications of having been dead several hours. Oould hardly recognise the body at first, but was now satisfied that it was that of Charles Bull, a bookbinder. The deceased was at one time a jfetient of his. Thomas Ray Hall, deposed : I am a bookbinder, and formerly worked for deceased. Saw him last night at about half-past 6ix when he came to my house. He brought some papers and a few tools to me, saying that he was going up country as far as the Manawatu Gorge, and that if anything should happen to him to send the papers to the proper parties. He seemed rational enough while speaking, though before he left me I thought he was a little rambling. He complained that he had been much disappointed in the way he had been treated by Mr Hughes who had brought him over from Melbourne and then refused to fulfill his promises. When he said he was going up country,' I offered to lend him £l, but he refused to accept it, saying it wonld be no use to him, as he could not repay it. At parting he shook hands with me. (something he never had done before) and said to me and my wife, " Gtod bless you." I asked him where he was going to sleep that night, and he said, "At Charley Hausemann's,

(European Hotel) ; he has been a very good friend to me lately." He left my house about nine o'clock. When I heard this morning that a man had been found drowned, I at once suspected it was Bull from his manner last night; I afterwards identified the body. He had one glass of beer at my house, but would eat nothing. He said he had eaten nothing for several days. Te Kepa (a native living at Te ArO pa, whd was interpreted by Mr Baker) deposed : At daylight I went to Hunter's wharf to get some fish, and having occasion to go under the wharf I saw from there a dead European lying at high water mark. He then called the attention of some Europeans to the body. John Petford, gasfitter, deposed: I knew deceased ten or twelve years, but have not seen him alive for several months. This morning a Maori beckoned to me to go to him. I went and saw the body of Bull lying on the beach at high water mark, close to Wills' boat-shed. The body was covered with sand and kelp. I did not recognise the body then, as the face was much disfigured from being knocked and rolled on the beach by the rough weather. I took a bottle from under deceased's face. I then told the police, and went away. This concluded the evidence, and a verdict of "found drowned" was immediately returned.