BODY FOUND.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17977, 24 March 1930, Page 6

BODY FOUND.

WASHED UP ON BEACH. VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. (Special to Times.) RAGLAN, Monday. The body of Herbert Washer Gilling who was missed from his brother s house at Raglan East on Monday, 17th inst., was found washed up .on the Ocean Beach near the Bryant Home on Saturday. The same evening an inquest was held iu the Raglan Courthouse before Mr T. Parker, J.P., and a jury. George Henry Gilling, contractor, Hamilton, identified the body as that of his brother, Herbert Washer Gilling, whom he had last seen alive at Hamilton on March 14. On that date his brother came over to Raglan with his wife and witness’ wife and two children. On March 17 he (witness) received word that his brother \vas missing. Deceased had no financial worries. The Public Trustee was holding about £7 00 for him, and he also owned mortgages. By Jury: Deceased had stayed with him for five or six weeks, and showed no sign of depression. Had given no reason to suspect that he might take his life. He had a break-down some years ago which affected his heart and left him with bad rheumatic trouble. Deceased could swim in his younger days, and probably the water would appear tempting to him. On the 19th inst. witness heard his brother’s clothes had been found on the east side of Raglan Harbour. Went there, and found" all of deceased’s clothes. They were in a sequestered spot, and the water was shallow-. Minnie Gilling, wife of the previous witness, said she came to Raglan with deceased on March 14. He w-as quite happy while in Raglan. On Monday he rose about 8.30 a.m., had a good breakfast and left about 9 a.m. without saying where he was going. Dr. W. M. Sanders, medical practitioner, said he had seen the body. Its condition was consistent with death from drowning. The state of the body was also consistent with that of a man who might have collapsed from heart trouble \yhile in the water. John O’Sullivan, police . constable, Raglan, gave evidence as to finding the body. The jury returned a verdict “ That deceased met his death by accidental drowning, probably caused by heart failure.” The deceased was a poultry- farmer at Wanganui. He leaves a widow, two daughters (Mrs W. Oliver, Wanganui, and Miss D. T. Gilling, Wellington), and one son, Mr C. H. Gilling, Frankton.