AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 52, 17 October 1914, Page 2

AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT

WOMAN FOUND DROWNED. [PhB PeBIW ASBOOIATTON.I Auckland, October 16. A singular story was related to Mr Cutten, S.M., at the.resumed inquest on the body of Alice Ward, alias Lindrop, a'gcd about 34 years, who was found in the harbor near the Nehin street wharf. An examination of the body showed that the woman- oied from drowning, that she had been drinking considerably : that there were abrasions on one wrist as if she hfld been gripped roughly, and. that, a small sum uf money wa., held tightly in, one hand.

Frank Taylor, a seaman aboard the scow Albatross, gave evidence which ahotved that deceased was a frequent visitor to the men aboard the scow, and that for two or three nights previous to the fatality she slept aboard the Albatross with Avitness and a man named Christiansen. Late on the night in question witness was returning to his scow, in a drunken condition, when he met deceased, who had been on another scow, and who said she had nowhere to sleep. Witness tried to take her aboard a scow called the Winnie,"but was ordered off, and he then went aboard the Albatross, which was close by. The woman, in attempting to follow him, fell between the scow and the wharf. Witness leaned over, seized her wrist, and tried to drag her out, but could not do so. As no help was forthcoming he let her go and went below, but failed to rouse Christiansen from his drunken sleep, so had a drink of beer and himself turned in. This witness was severely handled in the police, examination anr] declared he could not account for the fact that the woman had money clasped in her hand when taken from the water. He was drunk or would not have acted as he did.

The inquest wap adjourned until to-morrow.