INQUEST.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2774, 22 May 1903, Page 2

INQUEST.

: With regard to the death of Mr Batchelor, of Little River, the "Lyttelton 'limes" gives the following account of the inquest: An irqueat on the body of Isaac Harry Bachelor, whose body was found at Corsair B.iy was held at the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, on Tuesday afternoon, before Mr R. Bee thain Corouor, aud a jury of which Mr J. T. Brice was chosen foreman. Edward William Bachelor, a son of de ceased, stated that the latter left bis home at Little River on May 7 Deceased bad Buttered from rheumatic pain?, was blind in one eye, end latterly had sometimes made strange remarkp. There was nothing to t-how that he was likely to commit suicide. He lived happily at home. Alfred Hutchins said that the deceased was ailing and somewhat childish when he left home, His eyesight was very bad. Re had no domestic troubles, and was nob likely to commit Buicide. Hairy Piper stated that he saw deoeaied at Rapaki Pa on Friday, May 8, about 10.30 a,m, and at the Lyttelton Domain about half-past three the same day. Deceased had a sugar mat on bis back. He limped. Witness had identified the tody Constable Esson gave evidence as to finding the body floating against the rr.oke at Corsair Bay. |There was no fenoe to pro tecttbe place in the Domain, ne_.r whera it was fouud. Dr Pairnmn dspoeed that the body wan

much decomposed, and had evidently been in the water at least a week. There were no marks to show that vioKnce had been inflicted. The jury returned a verdict of found drowoed, and added a rider to vho effect that some fence or protection should bs erected in the Domain to prevent persons from falling into the wator.