THE DEATH OF MR JOHN HAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 43, 18 November 1871, Page 6

THE DEATH OF MR JOHN HAY.

THE INQUEST. An inquest was held on Monday afternoon at two o’clock, at the European Hotel, before JDr Johnston, Coroner, and a jury, as to the death of Mr John Hay, late Editor of the Independent, who had been found drowned on the beach, Lambton quay, on the previous day. The jury first proceeded to view the body, after which the following evidence was adduced : Dr Grace : Yesterday about 4 p.m. I inspected the body of the deceased which was then lying in the European Hotel. There was a scratch or a bruise perceptible on the forehead which in my opinion must have taken place before death. It was a very trifling injury, and would have no serious results in itself. It might have been done by falling into shallow water on the beach. From other symptoms about the body I judge that deceased had been drowned. I examined the deceased for any other external signs of violence but found none, only the signs always found after drowning. Alex. Reid deposed: I am Sub-Editor of the Wellington Independent. I was in company with the deceased on Saturday evening. I was with him until about a quarter past II o’clock, which was the last time I saw him alive. I then left him in Willis street, near to Custom Hquse street. I parted with him in a perfectly friendly manner, wishing him “ good night. ” I understood he was going home, as he resided in M illi? street, a short distance from where I left him. On parting with him, I proceeded along Manners street, to Taranaki street. We were at Greville’s News Room together for a considerable time in the early part of the evening, and then went to the Pier Hotel, where we remained in the billiard*

room for some time. From there we went to Donnecker’s, where Mr Hay had some supper. After that we had some oysters at the Galatea Oyster Saloon, and shortly afterwards we parted company. The deceased was in unusually good spirits during the whole of the afternoon and evening. Towards the latter portion of the evenin?, however, he became drowsy and sleepy. X knew that ho had been up until nearly five o’clock on the previous morning, and had not had hie regular rest. I heard wothing more of the deceased until half-past two p.m. on the following day, when I was told that he had been drowned. I also ascertained that, subsequent to my parting with him, he had been seen at the Empire Hotel. Wo were on the most friendly terms together, and his whole conversation during the evening was cheerful and lively. William Sellars : I am night watchman at the Empire Hotel. X saw the deceased last alive at 12 o’clock on Saturday night. He was then sitting on a sofa in a front room on the ground floor of the hotel. At 12 o clock it becomes my duty to turn off tbe lights and to 'clear the House of those who are not boarders. I consequently woke Mr Hay and told him we were closing for the night. He at once got up and walked out of his own accord, walking out of the house quite steadily. He appeared fatigued, and I know that he had beerrup very late during the week, and attributed his fatigue to that cause. The deceased had no drink in the Empire Hotel. When he left the house lie went in the direction towards the wharf. Benjamin Bing deposed : I am a butcher, residing on Lambtou Qhay, Wellington. \esterday, between 12 and 1 mid-day, Mr Gear called my attention to something lying opposite our shop on the beach. I sent one of the men down to see what it was. He shortly returned, stating that it was a human body. I immediately gave information to the police, and Sergeant Monaghan came down at once, and took charge of the body. I recognised the body as that of Mr Hay. I saw the body lying on the beach about 8 o clock in the morning, but thought it was an old mattress, and took no further notice at the time. It was low water about 4 o’clock. The body was lying near to high water mark. Mr Reid recalled : We had a conversation about the steamer Samson leaving on that night. I think I asked him if it was still intended that the Phoebe should sail that night, and he told me she bad been postponed till Tuesday, but that the Samson was likely to sail sooner. I replied that I thought it very improbable that any vessel would attempt to leave the harbor on such a night. He did not signify at that time that he had any intention of going on board the steamer. Sergeant Monaghan deposed to taking charge of the body of the deceased the previous day on the beach, Lambton Quay. On searching the corpse, the hands of deceased’s watch pointed to ten minutes past 12. Mr Millar, F.S.A., desired, as a friend of the deceased, to make a statement. Mr Hay had made enquiries during the day as to the time the Samson would sail, and was anxious to see his friends who were to leave by her. Mr Miller thought it very probable that he had attempted to go on board, and had been blown off the wharf.

This concluded tlie evidence, and the Coroner referred to Mr Millar’s statement as a probable explanation of the accident, but considered that there was only evidence of the circumstances under which the body had been found.

The jury at once returned a verdict of “Found Drowned."