The Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2966, 17 August 1878, Page 2

The Inquest.

. - An inquest on the body of George De Thierry, a victim of the late boat accident, whose body was found last night, was held at the Thames Hotel, Shortiand, today before Mir J. E. Macdonald, Coroner, and the follqwing jury:—Messrs J. E. Dodd (foreman) T. R. Foughy, W. J. Constant, Bullock, Jennings, B. Donnelly, J. Guilding, H. T. Bowe, J. Gibbons, J. Morwick, E. Eckenberg and H. Mcllhone. The Jury having been sworn proceeded io view ihe body, after which the following evidence was taken. .; George De Thieiry, jubr., sworn, gave evidence concerning the identification of the body.

James Thompson, sworn, deposed—l am a hotel-keeper residing at Shortiand: I recollect the evening of the (Jth in»t. On that evening I saw Thrupp'and De Thierry at my hotel. Thrupp owned a bout called the Colombo. Thrupp came in, and said to De Thierry "Come out, we're ready to start." The two went out, and went towards the wharf. I went down to the wharf with deceased, and saw a man named Benney with the other two in the boat. I waited there till they cast off It was a fine night, with scarcely a breath of wLid. -All .three were quite sober. I supplied them with sandwiches, a bottle of beer, and a flask of brandy. I have seen none of them alive since,* and recognise the body as that' of George De Thierry.

Peter Petersen, sworn, deposed—l am a fisherman. I was engaged fishing on the night of the accident, and was fishing all night. Several other boats were also oat. It was a fine night, with slight squalls occasionally. I was fishing about three miles to the west of the Piako river mouth. We left. Shortland .about 11 o'clock that night. I know the Colombo. She was originally a fisher-, man's boat, and was lately purchased by one Jonathan Thrupp. In my opinion she is a safe boat. At daylight in the morning whilst aground I saw something to seaward of us, and when the tide made I sailed down towards the object, which was found to be the Colombo; she was under water, lying on her beam ends. I could see a portion of her sails and mast underwater. The mainsail and jib were set. I did not make any further search, but returned to Shortland where Harry Everett had already reported the matter to the police. On the 7th I wag in the Fairy and assisted to raise up the Colombo, bhe had not drifted from the place I had seen her first. When we raised her we found the ballast shifted to /leeward. From my knowledge of the boat the ballast was likely to shift if she was caught in a sudden squall. Ido not know if any liquor was found in the boat. Since the accident I have kept a good look-out for the bodies, ami yesterday, at low water I, with the other men in the boat, saw the deceased Dr Thierry close to low water mark. . We found him about two miles from where the boat was found. We brought the body over to Shortland and it was "*aken possession of by Constable Bay. ■■■■■: • By the jury—There was a slight squall at two o'clock in the morning. All the sheets were fast.

Constable J. W. Day, sworn, deposed —I am stationed at Shortland. I yesterday took charge of the body of deceased from the last witness, and had it conveyed to where it now lies. I have searched the body, and find no marks of violence. In the pockets I found a sun glass, a knife, a piece of pencil, and an india rubber ring. The pocket were fulls of mud. I recognise the body as that of George De Thiery. I know a bottle of beer was found in the boat.

This concluded the evidence, and the jury found a Yerdictof " Accidental death by drowning."