BODY FOUND AT NEW BRIGHTON.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13005, 6 January 1908, Page 7

BODY FOUND AT NEW BRIGHTON.

SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE.

About .nine o'clock yesterday morning Constable Rowe, stationed at New Brighton, was handed a gun, found about a milo north of the pier by a man named William Averiss. It had n bootlace attached to one of the triggers, and on the breech being opened it was found that one of tho barrels had been discharged. The constable visited the locality, and after carefully searching the beach found a body in the sea (close to the low water-mark) about 400 yards south of tho pier. It was clothed only in a 6hirt and a pair of trousers, and one boot waa missing. Tlio head was partly blown off. The laoo in the boot found on the body was of the same kind ns the lace attached to the trigger. The body was subsequently identified as that of T. O. Bezett, 26 years of ago, a monoline operator on the "Temuka Leader." He came to Christchurch about New Year's T>ay, and was camping with a party at New Brighton. Ho seemed peculiar on Saturday evening, and it is said ho was then slightly intoxicated. Ho left the tent at J 2*30 yesterday morning, but returned a little later. About eight o'clock ho said to his companions he was going out to see some friends, and that was the last time he was seen alive. Apparently Bezett shot himself near the sea and fell into the water, the strong current carrying the body from the north side of the pier to the spot where it was subsequently discovered. A search was being mado yesterday in order to find the missing coat, waistcoat, and boot. An inquest will be' held to-day.