INQUEST.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 190, 3 February 1877, Page 2

INQUEST.

An Inquest on the body of Mark Webster (which was found near the nmiith of the Palt-a river), wa.s lie-M on \V otlnestlav last, at Mr Beamish’s Masonic Hotel, before H. F. Turner Esq., Coroner, the following being the Jury: Messrs John Moncastor, J. Southhy, Felix McCarthy, Tiros. Scown, J. Pakenham, Thos. North, J. Adamson, Thos. Haywood, Win. Williams, J. Slater, T. Holmes, and A. Woods. The following evidence was taken : George Kennedy, being sworn, said : I am a labourer living at Carlyle ; this morning at about 7 o’clock, I saw the deceased walking down Fort Street, in the direction of Milroy’s wharf ; ho was by himself ; lie appeared to bo quite sober by the way ho was walking ; 1 saw the body of deceased in a cauoo this morning, in charge of a constable. John Pender, being sworn, said ; I know the deceased ; I saw him about 7 o’clock this morning, going towards Milroy s wharf ; he was by himself, and appeared to be quite sober ; I did not speak to him ; I saw him yesterday at the brewery ; he was quite sober then. John Foss, being sworn, said : That deceased slept at his house on Tuesday night, and left at a quarter past seven on Wednesday morning, according to witnesses clock ; the deceased was quite sober when ho left ; ho was also quite sober when he retired to bed the previous evening. Matthew Carey, being sworn, said : I know the deceased ; from information received I went to to the Putca river this morning, I saw deceased ; my sou was holding his head out of the water and was trying to drag deceased to land ; I lifted the body into a canoe, he was dead ; his body was quite cold ; I then sent for the police ; I told my son to take the body to Milroy’s wharf. Charles Bayliss, being sworn, said : Between 9 and 10 on Wednesday morning, I went to the river side ; I saw the deceased’s body floating in the water about ten yards from the shore, and 150 yards below Milroy’s wharf ; the body was in deep water, and the tide was coming in ; I got into a canoe that was there, and tried to get tho’body into it ; I could could not lift it in, so dragged it ashore ; I cannot say if the body was cold or not ; I don’t think he had been using the canoe ; I took the body to Milroy’s wharf and handed it over to the police. Archer Charles Crofl, being sworn, said : I am a duly qualified Medical Practitioner, residing at Carlylo ; I have examined the body of deceased, a male subject ; the body has the appearance of being in water a very short time ; there are no marks of violence on the body, hut a slight abrasion of the skin on the inside of the right thigh, which appears to have been done by rubbing or scratching against something ; judging from appearances I should say deceased was about 40 years of age ; I should think that deceased

had died from Asphyxia ; lie looked as if lie had been perfectly sober. Constable Buckley, being sworn, said : I received information this morning that a indy had been found in the f’atna River, J wont there and found the body ot dee ‘iv-r'd in a can ic, in charge of Charles B.iyliss ; I felt the body and found it was cold ; I saw no mark-! of violence on the boilv : I searched the body and lonnda handkerchief, a clay pipe, and two small pieces of paner ; 1 took charge of the body, and brought it to tin; Hole!. George Kennedy, re-called, said : At low water it was dangerous between Mdroy’s wharf and whore (ho canoe was made last ; at high water you cannot got round there ; deceased has not walked that way before, to my knowledge. The Jury having considered the evidence, brought in Hie following verdicy : —That deceased was found drowned in the Patea River, and there were no marks of violence on the body.