FOUND DROWNED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 42, 13 November 1907, Page 5

FOUND DROWNED.

• WAS IT ACCIDENTAL? ANOTHER VICTIM TO DRINK. ! An enquiry' into; the death of Arthur M'Gowan, found,in the harbour on Sunday morning, was/held by the Coronor (Mr. Jas. 'Ashcroft) at the morgue yestorday afternoon. John Patrick M'Gowan, son of tho deceased, deposed that his father was in Wellington' and visited home on Thursday, November 7, on his' return-from Christchurch. He visited home in tho morning, and loft again to get his bolongings from the boat. As he did not return it was thought that he. had roturncd to his occupation in the country, as his employer had told him his job was ready for him as soon as ho had enjoyed his holiday. Tho next they heard was of his having been found in the harbour. Ho would not describe him as intemperate, but ho occasionally went on a "burst." Ho was quite sober when'ho was last seen. The deceased's pension claim showed that he was born in Armagh, Ireland, in 1842. It set out that ho had lived for twenty-six ■years in Timaru: j Dr; Fyffe testified that he had performed si post-mortem examination of the deceased. Beyond a few superficial scratches on tho face and hands thero wore no other marks, 'the lungs wore deeply congested. The stomach contained water and alcohol—a considerable quantity. The right side of the heart was dilated —an old standing disease. The Coroner: Was the heart in that condition that he might have had an'attack and fallen into the. water ? Witness: No, I think not; death was due to drowning. The heart,was not in sucn a condition to cause death. The Coroner: No blow over the head? • Witness: No, I was most particular in my examination in .that regard. Agnes. M'Lean, a boardinghouse heeperj of 26 ■Taranaki Street, gave evidence' that deceased, had boarded with her from Thursday to Saturday last.' Sho saw' himiast betwcon ; V.p.m.ahd 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. He was . not quite.sober then. Had been, worse in the afternoon, but had.had a sleepl He had told her.'he'was going to-Christchurch. He had no .luggage;, only had, a! little business' to do here, and had a return ticket to Christchurch.': . ; . • '.' By the police: Deceased said his luggage was at the station; whether it was at Christchurch or, Lyttelton ho did.not know;. He gave her.a sovereign, and had.others in his possesion; how many witness could not say. Ho had been drinking during the last two days of his residence' at her place. Did not Bee him leave with anyone-on Saturday cvon- ' ing. Frank Macarthy, labourer, residing at Mrs. M'Lean's boarding-house, stated that ? he saw: deceased at the corner of Cuba and Manners Streets about .8.30 p.m. He was by himself at 1 that time walking up. the footpath. When he came opposite the Koyal • Oak Hotel there, was a man standing with his back against-the hotel. He spoke to this man for about two minutes. As they parted •he heard the man say, " Come, and Ill.get you a bed." They crossed over in the direc-. tion of the coffee palace in Cuba Street extension. They went in the doorway—that was the last no saw of him. Deceased was aboiit half intoxicated at the time. Ho did not know the man: , ; The Coroner: Was there anything suspicious about the man? Witness: Well, I didn't like ; the. look of him; to tell you the .truth. . > > / ; The Coroner: This is a rather interesting ../ little link. ....

Daniel Nicll, porter at the Central Coffee Palace, Lower Cuba Street, testified that ho remembered deceased between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.mi at the coffee, palace. He asked tor a bed, and was told that there was none — that because he seemed to bo under the influence of drink..; He came in by himself, and went out-by. himself. Thomas B. M. Kelly, an A.B. on the Turakina, deposed to having seen the. hody of a man floating in the harbour about 5.50 a.m. : on !,Sunday,-,and described the manner in which.it..was got ashore. ~;.' ,Consta,ble M'Leod. gave evidence as to the securing of the, body. On, the deceased .there was a P.O. bank-book (with a credit of £7 Is. 3d.). Thero was ho cash in his pocket... •(' ■• . ~ .; The Coroner: That is suspicious—he ought to have had some sovereigns on him—five or six. ' "'•■■'. ; • Sergeant Phair: It might have fallen out of'his pocket when he fell. ' . Witness: There was also. a return ticket to Christchurch, a purse, and a bottle of medicine. '-'', Sergeant ' Phair said thero were three persons present when the body' was searched';' he thought it only right that that should be mentioned. A verdict of "Found drowned"'was returned.' •• " < ■■ : "Another added to the: long list of the victims of drink," said the Coroner, in conclusion.