INQUEST.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 378, 16 October 1868, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, at Tibby's Westport Hotel, by Dr. Giles, Coroner, on the body of a man picked up the day before on the South Beach.

The following evidence was addu ced:

A. M. Sonthworth, said :—I am a miner lately residing in Charleston. Yesterday morning I was on the South Spit, and saw the body of a man on the beach, and partly in the surf. The body was much discolored from decomposition, and was only partially dressed. I went and reported the matter to the police, and afterwards assisted to convey the body to another place.

James Doris, constable, stationed on the South Spit, said:—About seven o'clock yesterday morning, the last witness reported the finding of a body near the signal staff, and on going there, I found it to be the body of a man. It had tnen been moved about 20 yards above high water mark. It had on moleskin trowsers, drawers, and the heavy pair of Wellington boots produced. I searched the pockets but found no property of any description. There were mot any marks of violence on the body. It was carried to the Carriers Arms Hotel, and afterwards conveyed to Westport. The evidence of John M' Don aid was simply corroborative of that of Southworth.

Juan Rabacco, an Italian, and a shoemaker by trade, identified the body by its having a peculiar lump on each foot, as that of a man who went by the name of Austrian Jack. He continud—l knew the deceased, who livedabout ten miles above where 1 was staying at the Lyell, and made for him the boots produced. That was about six weeks ago, a week before he was drowned. I heard of his being drowned from his mate.

G-eorge Zanetti, a publican residing at Addison's Flat, also identified the body by the lumps on the feet, as that of a man he had known for some time under the name of John Cacich, an Austrian by birth. The deceased had gone up theßuller about twelve months ago. Inspector Franklyn said he knew the deceased under the name of John Cacich, but that the usual name he went by was Austrian Jack. On referring to the police book he found a report made by Mr Todd, storekeeper, through Mr Leslie, of a digger having lost his life in endeavouring to cross the Buller in a canoe, the canoe being carried over a fall and capsized. A

party of diggers endeavoured to find the body, but without success. Dr Thorpe stated that he had made an external examination of the body. It had evidently been a long time immersed, and was in an advanced state of decomposition. There were no particular marks of violence, and the general appearance of the body was consistent with the idea of death by drowning. This being all the evidence offered, after a short summing up by the Coroner, the jury returned a verdict: — "That the body was that of John Cacich, and that he was found drowned."