THE DEVONPORT DROWNING FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 51, 1 March 1909, Page 8

THE DEVONPORT DROWNING FATALITY.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

ilr. T. Gresham (Coroner), and a jury of six, held an. inquest at the residence of Air. H. K. Martinson, Tainui-road, Devonport, yesterday, touching the death of James Butler, who was drowned whilst swimming off the Cheltenham Beach on Saturday. Henry Robert Martinson, manufa^tur-

ing jeweller, said deceased resided at his house. He was a young man twentythree years of age, single, a grocer by trade, but at the time in employ of the Devonport Borough Council. He had known deceased for ten or eleven months. i>o far as he was aware, deceased was not subject to fits or seizures of any kind. iDeceased was in the habit of

bathing off Cheltenham Beach every day, and was reputed to be a very strong swimmer. Witness last saw deceased on Friday night, when he was in his usual health and spirits. Deceased had never informed him whether his life was insured.

Hugh Edward Cooper, agent, residing in Jubilee-avenue, Devonport, said lie was not acquainted with deceased, and was not conscious of having seen him swimming before Saturday last. His impression was that he saw deceased liefore he (deceased) went into the -water, and was asked by him in a friendly way whether the water was cold. Shortly before one o'clock witness was finishing dressing. lie could not say how long deceased had then been in the water. There were one or two others in the dressing shed. He heard a shout, and,: looking out, saw deceased struggling and dog-paddling. Deceased was then about twenty-four yards out. It was high; tide, and the depth of the water where deceased was would came over his head. Witness immediately took to the water with his clothes on, but finding that thus impeded he coul:l not swim, he turned back to throw off some of his clothing. He then swam out. Meanwhile a boat had been launched, and was approaching deceased, when he sank. There was nobody near deceased at the time. As fnr as he could see, a Maori in the boat dived for deceased. j

Alexander Morrison Miller, iionmonger, residing in Blenheim, but at present on a visit to Auckland, said he rowed out in the boat. He necessarily had his back to where deceased was last seen, about 60ft. to SOft. out. The tide was receding. When he got out there were several swimmers looking for deceased, who had sunk. When the spot had been located, a Maori in the boat dived, but Said tlie water was too dull and he could see nothing. Finally witness saw the body about three or four feet below the surface. It was recovered and brought ashore. From five to ten minutes elapsed between the time when deceased sank and the time when the body was recovered.

Dr. Atkinson, medical practitioner, residing at Devonport, said he was sent for, and was on the scene when the body was brought to shore. The body was flaccid. He endeavoured to induce respiration artificially for forty minutes, but without success. Death was due to suffocation by drowning.

A verdict, of death by drowning through misadventure was "returned in accordance with the medical evidence.