INQUEST ON THE BODY OF GEORGE CLEVELAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5084, 10 July 1877, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF GEORGE CLEVELAND.

An inquest was held yesterday at the Royal Oak Hotel, before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, on the body of a man discovered on the beach on Sunday afternoon. Of the jury Wm. Langford was elected foreman. The jury having been briefly addressed by the coroner, retired to view the body, and on returning the following evidence was taken : Andrew Wilson deposed; I am a seaman belonging to the schooner Excelsior, now lying in Wellington harbor. I have seen the deceased. I recognise the body. It is that of George Cleveland. He was about sixty years of age. I believe he is a married man, and that his family live in Auckland or at the Thames. I left the deceased on Saturday night last at about 8 o’clock at the fishermen’s wharf, Te Aro. Deceased was not sobei-, but he was not very drunk. I offeree! to take him on board the schooner, as the boat was lying at the wharf, but deceased refused to allow me to accompany him, saying he was capable of taking the boat off to the schooner by himself. I, having been paid off, therefore stopped on shore. I saw deceased get into the boat and leave, after having taken from me a bottle of kerosene and a lamp, which I banded to him. The weather was fine, and I thought there was no danger in his going away by himself. I stood on the wharf quite five minutes after he had left. He appeared to manage the boat perfectly well, proceeding straight iu the direction of the Excelsior. Next day I saw the captain, who informed me that Cleveland had not returned to the vessel, but that the boat had been discovered somewhere near the wharf. The kerosene and lamp were iu the boat when the boat was fouud. There was only one oar in the boat when it was found. I believe there were two oars in the boat when it left the wharf.

William Joyner deposed : I am a master mariner. I was captain of the schooner Excelsior, but I handed her over to the owner on Thursday last. I have known the deceased for many years. He acted as mate of the schooner. He shipped with me at Lyttelton about three weeks ago. I saw him last alive about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, opposite Barrett's Hotel. The deceased was sober, but I could tell that he had had a glass. He was then in good health and spirits. He told me that he was going to send his wife £2, having received £4 from me on the day before. I did not see him alive after that, but at about ten o’clock ou Sunday morning I was told that the vessel’s boat bad been

found adrift. In the afternoon of Sunday I went on board the schooner, which was deserted and the cabin door locked. Having heard from the previous witness that deceased had started for the ship, I at once concluded that deceased in sculling the boat had overbalanced himself and fallen over the side, taking the oar with him. I think he must have done this, because no one man could overturn the boat, which was very heavy. Deceased was a good seaman, having a mate’s certificate. I have no doubt but that his death was the result of an accident such as I have described..

The Coroner was of opinion that this was sufficient evidence. They were not likely to get more, at least. Personally he had no doubt that by 8 o’clock the deceased had more liquor than was good for him ; but there - seemed no reasonable ground for blaming the seaman who gave evidence as to seeing off the deceased, who it appeared was determined to go alone in the boat ; and, on the other hand, his companions up to that time having been discharged from the vessel, had no business there.

The jury concurred with this view of the case, and without further consideratien, found the following verdict:—“That deceased was found drowned in Wellington harbor ; but how he became drowned there is no evidence to show.”