FELL OFF BREAKWATER

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1916, Page 3

FELL OFF BREAKWATER

DEATH OF MAJOR COLEMAN EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST inquest concerning the death of Major J. H. Coleman, of New Plymouth. who.-e body was found at sea on Sunday, was held by the coroner (Mr. A. Crooke) yesterday. Mrs. George, who resides in Vivian street, stated that the late .Major Coleman boarded with her. He went out afte r breakfast on Wednesday morning, and witness did not sec him again. His health had been indifferent, and lie snfierecl from giddiness. To witness' knowledge, the deceased had no troubles or financial worries. ■Richard Jury, a cabman in New Plymouth, ".aid he knew the deceased very '"'ell. Oh Wednesday morning witness was driving along Powdorham Street, and lie was hailed by the deceased, who visked to he driven to the breakwater 'lore. Deceased left the cab at Riley's -•lore, and he mentioned nothinjj about veturning.

*>r. I'.laekloy, who had attended the leccased from time to time for t.lie last jiffiit months, said ho was suffering fnmi ni.aii blood pressure and degeneration of Ms Mood vessels. The deceased was to attacks of giddiness, wliieh had l)een occurring for some yc-.rs. out had been much move frequent during the rast three or four months Subseoucm to each attack he suffered more or less from mental disurbance.

T o Mr. .7ohnstone: The deceased might have died suddenly a t any time. The attacks of giddiness were of an nemo nature, and when the attacks chine on lie usually fell down and lost Cuiticioiisness for a brief period.

To the Coroner: The eight of moving wafer mijjlii preeipiiato an attack of ;:i.'Miiieas.

Oeorj'o R. I.ovoridgo, a dredge hand at the port, said he saw the deceased walking along the breakwater on Wednesday morning, but he did not see the deceased after this. Witness bad never seen tlie deceased on the breakwater before this day. 1!. Frowin. a fisherman, gave evidence, iw to finding the body of the deceased at sea, about seven or eight miles from the breakwater, in the direction of Cape Rgmont, on Sunday morning.

Alfred Coleman, a son of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. To Mr. Johnstone: Witness know that the deceased occasionally went to the breakwater. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased accidentally fell from the breakwater into the ' sea and wis 'drowned.