THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT TO CAPTAIN ALLEN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5317, 11 April 1878, Page 3

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT TO CAPTAIN ALLEN.

CORONER’S INQUEST. An inquest was held yesterday at the Morgue, before Dr. Johnston, coroner, touching the death of William Edward Allen, late master of the schooner Maiden City. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : Stephen Ellis, master mariner, deposed:! am in charge of the schooner Poneke, now lying in Wellington Harbor. I have seen the body of the deceased; I recognised it as that; of Captain William Allen, late master of the schooner Maiden City. The last time I saw him alive was on Wednesday, opposite the Fire Brigade Station in Manners-street. He was then perfectly sober, and appeared in his usual good health and spirits. The deceased was about 35 years old.

William Co”chrane deposed : I am a seaman belonging to the Day Dawa schooner. About 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning I saw the body of the deceased floating in the water. I recognised it when drawn out of the water as that of Captain Allen. It was found off the breastwork close to Mr. Mills’ foundry. The police were sent for, and took charge of the body, which was much disfigured, but I recognised it by the clothes and general appearance as that of Captain Allen. I don’t know for how long the deceased had been missing. I do not know anything of deceased’s family. George Chapman deposed : I am a master mariner, and have known the deceased for three or four years. He was not a married man. His only relative that I know of is an aunt living in Wellington. Deceased usually lived on board the vessel. I last saw him on Tuesday evening about six o’clock ; he was then near the Telegraph Office, His schooner was lying off Captain Williams' place. Deceased was quite sober. He was walking towards Willis-street. I did not hear that he was missing until Thursday morning, when the mate of the Maiden City asked me if I had seen him, observing that deceased had not been on board since Tuesday afternoon. The mate said he had given notice to the police. Police Constable McGrath deposed : On Thursday morning the last witness came to me on Lambton-quay, where I was on duty, He told ms that he had seen a body floating in the water near Mr. Mills’ foundry. I went to the spot, and with the assistance of some other men recovered the body and removed it to the Morgue. I searched the body and found a pocket book and 7s. 6d. in money and some papers. Peter Curran and Peter Edwards were with me at the time. They belonged to tho schooner Maiden City. The former is now master and the latter mate of the vessel. Both of these men recognised the body as that of Captain Allen. They have gone away with the vessel, which left this morning. The jury returned an open verdict, that deceased was found drowned.