CORONER’S INQUEST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4574, 17 November 1875, Page 2

CORONER’S INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday at the Morgue before Dr. Johnson, Coroner, and a jury, on the body of Peter Nicholas Frederick Claason, a seamen, who was drowned while endeavoring to escape from the ship Herschel. John Ramrnan deposed that he was master of the ship Herschel. Knew deceased, who was a seaman on board the ship. Deceased came' from Hamburg, of which he was a native. He was twenty-five years of age. He shipped for the voyage to Wellington, and wherever else the ship might go. Deceased had been in gaol for desertion about eight days. He was brought on board last Saturday, the 13th, by the police. Saw deceased alive on board the ship on Monday morning. Deceased complained of a bad leg. The doctor of the ship saw him and examined the leg. Tho sore was an old one, and did not require much treatment. Deceased was in irons in the afternoon so that he should not run away. At about half-past seven deceased was released for a short time. Shortly afterwards witness saw something in the water, which looked like a big fish. Witness asked the mate if all were on board ; the mate answered that Peter Claason had been to the water-closet; but that since he had gone there they could not find him. Thinking that the object in the water might possibly be Claason, witness had a boat lowered, but their efforts to find him were unavailing. This was about eight o’clock. Deceased was sought after for about three-quarters of a hour, when thoboatreturned. Thelife-buoy found with the deceased showed he must have been prepared previous to his being put _ in irons. Tho ship was lying about three miles from the Queen’s wharf. The other seamen informed witness that deceased was a great swimmer; therefore, he thought deceased would possibly reach the shore. The next witness heard of deceased was when a boat was sent off to the ship by the police for the purpose of making enquiries. Witness then came ashore and identified the deceased. John Pickling deposed to finding the body of deceased on the beach at tho back of Joseph’s store. . He gave information to the police, who obtained a boat, and the body was taken to the watermen’s steps. Deceased

appeared to have one bundle under each arm, which kept the body afloat. The captain stated he should judge that the bundles were made by deceased to buoy him up. They were composed of bread bags, stuffed with pieces of cork and chips, Samuel McWilliams, constable, corroborated the evidence of last witness. Deceased was not thoroughly searched, but inside his shirt was found a packet of letters and photographs, and a watch.

The coroner said the jury should not find much difficulty in arriving at their verdict. The deceased had evidently been drowned while trying to escape from the ship, finding the wind; too strong for him. So far as he could see, therefore, the only verdict they could return was that deceased was accidentally drowned while endeavoring to escape from his ship. There could be no suspicion of suicide, as deceased had evidently attempted to reach the shore.

The jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned.