MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN THE HARBOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1490, 19 November 1874, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN THE HARBOUR.

AN IKDIAX OFFICER FOUND DROWNED.

DISCOVER 2" OF THE BODY.

At a quarter to seven this morning. Mis Mrs Coll«y, living in a lonely house en the beach, at the foot of the steps down the cliff, in the south-western corner of St. George's Bay, saw something floating in the water, close in shore, which on more attentive examination turned out to be a human body. The lady, horrified at the sight, immediately called her husband, who at one« waded into the water, and drew the corpse to land. Constable Jackson was then sent for. The body was that of i\ youngish man, perhaps 32 years old, of short stature and full habit. His height may be estimated- at about sft. 6in. He was broad in proportion to his height, had a sandy-colored moustache, with shaven face, on which the young hair had been allowed to grow for perhaps two or three days. The general appearance indicated that deceased had not been accustomed to the hard manual work of a labourer or mechanic. The hands were soft and well shaped, while the clothes, though not new, had a genteel look. Deceased was dressed in a chequered suit. He had on a short cutaway coat with brown velvet collar. He had tweed trousers and waistcoat and a check Crimean shirt. The trousers had a stripe down their seams. In his coat pocket was found a copy of the Evening Star of last night, which at once showed death must have taken place during the night. In another pocket s letter was found, addressed " Cutter Ellen, Thos. Gellibrand, Miranda." Constable Jackson, after searching the body, procured assistance, and had .deceased removed to the dead-house.

IDENTIFICATION. During the morning the corpse has been identified by several persons as the body of Mr. Charles Prior, aged 35, a son of General Prior, late of the Hon. East India Company. Deceased has been himself an officer in Her Majesty's service, and was in command of a fort during the Indian mutiny. He has been in the colony for two or three years, and has at times received money from his friends in England, who, as might be inferred, are in very good circumstances. Deceased has a brother in Auckland who of late has received the remittances. Except for a very short period of time, the unfortunate man has done no work since his residence in the colony. He was addicted to habits of intemperance which at times produced reactionary periods of depression. The exception referred to was in the month of May last when he1 signed articles on board the Cyphrenes, and went one trip in her as steward. This he gave up when the steamer returned. For the last twelve months deceased has lived at a boarding-house in West Queen-street, kept by Mr Flannery. Occasionally, however, he has stayed a day or two with his brother at the Forester's Arms, in Albert-street. Mr Flannery Btates that he never wishes to nave a more well - conducted and respectable man to lodge at his house. His propensity to drink was his only fault, and he appeared to be thoroughly weighed down and broken in spirit, by his vivid sense of the bondage in which he was held. Flannery states that he never heard a rough word come out of his mouth. When cast down he would often say he wished he was dead, bat he never expressed the slightest intention of committing suicide. During his stay at ' West Queen-street he has had two fits.

an" Jrifc ' £*** ' of proceeding to the Miraafc ftV where he had been offered »v,,edo&bt Gellibraud, a gentleman w e ,l £,*** & coasting trade, informs us he £ i? m *» deceased for some time He w °* ttthe his unfortunate propensity and *J??* « very much as with that wigiW,l** bearing and behaviour of a hadtl U> Thinking perhaps that it would £??**< to get him away from town int o th^'V) where he would not have tC W gratifying his craving for stimnW cans d days ago he offered him the maS, **e» a store at the Miranda Redonbt &** °* accepted. The letter found Kfl ** to this, The fact of it bei™ !&**<* » cutter Ellen " is explained b^ttf o** having been at first chartered bv^!t°S tt *' brand to go down to the Miranda • stances afterwards led to the cuttn* tv0110"01----being substituted, and it is to tK^' this boat we are indebted for the f n ?T*o{ particulars of deceased's - loUoWiag LAST HOURS ALIVE. The cutter Diamond was yesterday 1 * alongside the Queen-street Wharf c 8 finished loading towards evening "w 8 mained at the wharf till nearly feu le' eleven. Shortly before that time the Mr Sherer, came on board, and found" p^' had been on the vessel for about an h a-half, according to his own assertioni was then perfectly sober. (With r this we may mention that deceased wsg« v several persons yesterday afternoon y evening, and all agree that he wag Z^ worse for liquor). Between half- pa3t } ">8 and twelve Sherer and his mate hanta? !? cutter off to an ancborage. Th t some time, and deceased in lhe of the work asked several timesiire? c should assist. Bis services were ho declined, and at one o'clock the sel was anchored. The three of them u 63' turned in, Prior wrapping himself unJft mainsail on deck. In the morning a and the mate missed deceased. Heifoi heard any splash during the night, Sfa! were at a loaa to accountforhis disappeJ^ Subsequently, they found Prior'aa*' board. They then gave information to ft police, which led to the identification of th body found in St. George's Bay, asthaUi the missing man.- An inquest will beheld to-morrow. tt