ACCIDENTAL DROWNING AT NORTHCOTE.-Coroner's Inquest.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4520, 24 November 1884, Page 2

ACCIDENTAL DROWNING AT NORTHCOTE.-Coroner's Inquest.

An inqueet on the body of the unfortunate young man SVilliam Harrison Gash, who was found in a creek in Little Shoal Bay last Saturday, was held at ito Ferry Hotel, Northcote, at 6.30 p.m. the same day, before G. N. Brasaey, Esq. District Coroner, and • a jury, of which Mr James Faulkner was chosen foreman. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : —Annie Matilda Barnes, residing at Birkonhoad, deposed to the young man having been a boarder at her fathor's house. She lost saw him alive between <J and 10 a.m. Deceased had his breakfast at 9 a.m., and shortly afterwards left with his gun and dog, and said he was going for a bathe. VVitnesa tried to persuade him not to bathe in the salt water, but to use the bath-room; but he refused. She identified the body and the clothes found on tho bank. David Gash, brothor of deceased, identified the body as that of his brother, who was a single man aged 21 years. The deceased could not swim. James O'Neill (Birkenhead) deposed to discovering tho body in the creek in a nude state. Tho deceased's dog was guarding his clothes and gun on the bank. Witness proceeded to Auckland, and gave information to the police.—James Butterworth (Northcote) deposed to seeing a person bathing at the spot whore the body was found between 9 and 10, but did uot hear any-cry or notice anything peculiar. The depth of water at high tide in the creek would be about seven feot. It was high tide last Saturday about 0.15.—L. McDonnell, constable A.C. Force, deposed to finding the body in company with Constable Mackay, at the spot pointed out by the witness O'Neill. He took charge of it and the clothing. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental drowning whilst bathing." The friends of the deceased expressed their thanks to the coroner for his promptitude in holding the inqueet, thus enabling them to take charge of the body and convey it to Auckland by the-9 o'clock' boat, instead of conveying it to the morgue to remain there awaiting an inquest on the following Monday.