An Unexplained Fatality.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1888, Page 2

An Unexplained Fatality.

An inquest was held at tho City Morgue this morning, before Mr. Robinßon, R.M., on the body whioh was found on tho boach at Te Aro yestorday, and which has since been identified as that of William Blewden, contractor, of Auokland. Mr. Wm. Eades was foreman of the jury. , Inapeotor 1 homson was the senior police officer present. Dr. Cole, who had made a post mortem examination of tho body, said that ho found a quantity of Band and shelly gravel botb inside and outside the olothing, and in the> mouth and nostrils, as if it had settled thor* for Borne little time. The only marks of external injury were abrasions on the forehead, and at the back of the head, and outs on the outsido of two fingers of tho rijht hand. These might have beon caused by washing against tho rooks, and though the bruises on the head might have stunned a man, thoy would not have boen sufficient to cause death. On opening the head, he found tho brain abnormal as to weight, shape, consistency, and colour, while the upper convolutions woro flattened, these appearances indicating that deceased had suffered from chronic inflammation of tho parts, probably for Borne years. Witness thought he must have manifested daring life some symptoms of both mental and physioal aberration. Did not think it necessary to examino the body further. Tho congestion and distention about the vessels of the brain would almost of thomselvea be sufficient to aocount for death. The body had none of the ordinary appearances of 'drowning, and could not nave been very long in the water. Deceased's eyed were evidently defective, and he might have fallen over the breastwork, through being seized with giddiness. Could not say, from,' the examination, what was the oanse of death, but could be certain that death was sudden, from the fluidity of the blood. To Inspector Thompson.— The' very abnormal condition of the brain might decidedly have developed suicidal tendencies. All the marks on the body were such aa might have been caused by washing against rooks after death. Constable Doyle proved to finding tho body and James G. Spence identified it as that of William Blewden, an Auckland oontractor. The latter witness had known deceased for some years, and had never noticed any signs of mental aberration, or seen him the worse for liquor. Hie eyesight, however, was very defeotive. Patriok Houlihan, platelayer, employed on Mr. A. Maguire's reclamation contract, said he saw deceased pacing to and fro on the footpath in Willis-street at 4 o'clook on Sunday afternoon. Witness remarked to a friend that the deceased then looked half silly. He was then walking up and down, with his head sunk on his breast, as though thinking, but did not appear to be drunk. Constable Gleeson deposed that he had ascertained on board the b.b. Tarawera that 1 deceased was a passenger' by that vessel from Auokland to Melbourne, and that on hiß way to Wellington he had been so uneasy and troublesome that the steward waa obliged one night to lock him in his bnnk. He left the vessel at 7 o'clock on Snnday evening, and was not seen on board again. The steward came to the Morgue, and identified the body as that of the passenger he had alluded to. [Inspector Thompson explained that as the steward wonld have lost his employment if he had been detained to give evidence, and as his testimony would not have been material, it was not thought necessary to keep him in Wellington.] Inspector Thompson said that deceased had a very expensive lawsuit in Auokland last year, and had since had some very serious losses, which, he thonght, had affected his mind considerably. The doctor's description of the condition of deceased's brain had not at all surprised him. The jury returned an open verdict of Found Dead.