Drowned.
A most distressing and fatal accident occurred at the lower wharf on Thursday last, whereby the infant son of Mr. W. Knights of this town lost his life. Little appears to be known of the movements of the deceased prior to his body being found on the beach ; and, unfortunately, the evidence given at the inquest throws no further light on the subject. At the inquest the following were examined : — A. J. Thomas, sworn- I have viewed the body now lying dead in Mrs. Knights’ house. I know it to be the body of Mrs. Knights’ son. I last saw the body yesterday at the lower wharf, between 11 and 12 o’clock. He was alone, and going towards the sea beach. I spoke to the lad in the usual way. J. Brodie, sworn, said : I have seen the dead body of the male child now lying at Mrs. Knights’. I recognise it the same as I saw yesterday, while going to the beach. I came upon the body accidentally as I was walking along, it was in the fair way on the open beach. It was midway between high and low water-mark. At that time it was dead low water. I felt its hand, and found it to be dead. I then went and informed the police. I did not disturb it. The body was quite cold. The clothes were wet and. had a lot of sand on them.
By a juryman : I should think the tide had receded at least 2| hours from the body. There were no marks of violence on the body, except a blue contusion on one shin. Its clothes were not disarranged. Constable Walsh deposed to taking charge of the body in question, and gave evidence as to its state. It was dead. There were no marks of violence on it. It was dead, and quite cold. The limbs were limp. This concluded the evidence, and the Coroner—R. Price, Esq., R.M.— remarked that the identity of the body was proved, and left it the jury to decide the issue, which was that the body was found drowned, but that there was no evidence to show the cause of death. We commiserate with Mr. and Mrs. Knights on this stroke of affliction which has overtaken them.
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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 979, 17 September 1881, Page 2
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381Drowned. Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 979, 17 September 1881, Page 2
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