INQUEST ON THE BODY OF JAMES BROWN.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 502, 24 March 1880, Page 2

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF JAMES BROWN.

An inquest was held on the body of James Brown on Friday last, before C. A. Wray, Esq., Coroner, and the following jury —W. Odgcrs (foreman), A. Webb, J. Chadwick, D. O’Sullivan, P. Larsom, J. McCarty, R. Strend, T. Kells, W. Wilkinson, J. Dunn, W. Howitt, J. Donnelly, and J. Rhodes. A. C. Croft deposed—l am a duly qualified medical practii ioner, residing at Carlyle. By order of the Coroner I have this morning made a post mortem examination on the body of a man apparently about 34 years of age. The body appeared to have been immersed in water for several days. There were no marks of violence, except

a bruise on the right temple, which j believe to have taken place since death —most probably from coming in contact with some hard substance like a stump or a rock. I believe the death to have been caused by drowning. The.deceascd appeared to have sunk, and to have been lying on the bottom of the river on his face, in tho mud. The cause of death by drowning was so apparent, that I did not think it necessary to open the body. Tho blood on decased’s face has oozed from his mouth and nose since death.

William Wilkinson deposed—l am a laborer residing at Carlyle. I have seen (lie body of deceased. I recognise, it as the remains of James Drown, late cook at the Patea Breakwater. I last saw him alive on Sunday, 14th March. He was then in a small black flat-bottomed boat on the Patea River.

William Dale, sen,, deposed—l am a saddlorresidingat Carlyle. On Sunday, 14th March, I was taking a walk, about 11 o’clock, past the wharf. I was attracted by a noise in the store at the whai f. I went to the building and looked in at the window. I saw James Brown, whose body I now identify, breaking open lids of boxes in the store. I found the door locked previous to looking in at the'window.' 1 then went away a short distance, meaning to try and get the key from the storekeeper. Looking back, 1 observed that the door was wide open, and I saw James Brown come out. He got into a boat lying at the wharf. The tide had taken the boat under the wharf, and the deceased called out to mb to let go the painter. I refused, and wont to get a hammer and some nails to fasten up the door of tho store. ■ On returning, 1 found that tho deceased had got away in the (mat, and had got across the river by the mud fl it. The deceased was very drunk when ho got into the boat, for which loason I refused to let go the painter when asked to do so. There were several people on the wharf when deceased got away. I did not inform the police. The deceased was puddling with one oar. He appeared to have little control over the boat. There were no boats about the wharf to render any assistance. The boat seemed to me when 1 left not to bo moving, but to have stuck on the mud flat. 1 thought there was no danger there. Alfred Vere deposed—l am providore of the steamer Patea. On Sunday, 14th instant, at about 7 a.m., James Brown came on board the Patea. After being there about a quarter of an hour he went down to the cabin and had a glass of brand} 7 . lie (hen said he was going down to the works at tho breakwater to get (he breakfast ready. He stood talking for a few minutes, and then got over the side into his boat, and said lie would get away down. Ho seemed suddenly to have got into a state of madness, and jumped up in the boat and pulled off his coat, and fell into the river. The cook, Arthur Walker, (brew out aline to him, which he caught hold of, and got Into his boat. After getting in he stooped down to pick up his oar, and again foil over into the river. Walker threw him a rope again, and we pulled him on board. We fastened his bauds behind him, and laid him on the deck. He struggled ns is ho was in a fit. He remained on board nearly an hour. I have seen the body, and identify it as (ha remains of the Into James Brown. He seemed quite sensible and sober before going down into the cabin.

Arthur Walker deposed—l am cook on board the steamer Patea. On Sunday morning, 14th instant, Janies Brown came on board the steamer. I saw him come up from the cabin. He seemed to be in a very excited stale. I asked him why lie did’nt go down to his work. Ho said nothing, but lowered himself by a small line into the water. I leaned over the rail and got hold of his hand, and pulled him up, so that he could stop into his boat. When I left go, he fell backwards in the boat. He got up again, and fell over the side of the boat into the river. One of the men got into the boat and passed a lino round him, and get him on deck. He struggled a good deal, and I held his arms so that Do Vero might fasten them behind his back. I left him on deck, and went down to breakfast. When I came up again, I found that deceased was in the forecastle. Shortly afterwards he came on dock and fe[l, striking his head on the bulwarks severely. .1 considered ho was not able to take care of himself, and assisted to take him to the store on the wharf. Ho was locked in, and shortly afterwards the steamer left for Wellington. I have seen the body, and identify it as the body of James Brown. I have known the deceased for a long time, bat never knew him to drink, Ido not know what was the matter with him on this occasion. I did not leave him in charge of anyone on Sunday before leaving. I saw bun in the cabin on Sunday morning; he appeared well then. I have heard deceased say that he could not take drink. He appeared to be in a bad temper about something when he came on deck. I never knew him to have a fit previously. The blow ho received when he fell on deck was on the top of the head.

John Hay deposed—l am a fisherman at Carlyle. At 2 a.m. this morning (J9th) I was in rny boat, lookidg after my nets in the Pntea River. I saw something floating in the river which I took to bo a block of wood. On touching it, I found it to be a corpse. I made the boat’s painter fast to the body, and towed it to a punt layi.ig in the river. I made it fast to the punt, and came home. 1 told my mate about it. and be. (Charles Cooper) gave information to

the police. The body was floating up with the flood, and close under the bow of the Agnes when I secured it with the painter, Edward ■ Delaney deposed—l am a laborer residing at Carlyle, Last Monday-• morning (15lh) I found the breakwater boat opposite the Boiling Down establishment. There was one paddle in the boat, and the painter was coiled in her. I took the paddle out, and stuck it, into the ground, made the boat, fast, and told'Mr Dickson at the breakwater. Mr Dicdson took possession of the boat, and came up to town to reportthe matter to the police. The boat is flat-bottomed, and sale it in charge of a sober man, who knew what he was about. Patrick McGrath deposed—l am Sergeant in the A.C., stationed Carlyle. At about 10 o’clock on Monday morning, Mr Dickson called at the i’olice station, and reported that the cook at the breakwater was missing. He said that the boat in which the cook went to town had been found. I then made enquiries, as did Constable O’Brien. From information I received, I came to the conclusion that domes Brown was not drowned, but that he had left the place to avoid proceedings from persons to whom ho was indebted. I sent Constable O’Brien to Whenuakura to make enquiries. He reported that a man answering Brown’s description—same dress, hat, &c.— had called at the Whenuakura Hotel, and had a drink at 3 p.m. on Sunday. At Waveriey, a man of the same description was reported as having passed through. On Monday I obtained a boat, and with Constable O’Brien searched from the Patea Bridge as far as the breakwater, without finding anything. We made a more particular scacli about the mud flat, where the boat had been seen. James O’Brien gave evidence to having taken the body i’rom the punt to the Masonic Hotel. Three shillings and sixpence in silver, about tcnpence in coppers, a key, and a package of papers in the pockets of deceased. 'The jury returned a verdict of “ Found Drowned.”