FOUND IN HARBOR

Evening Star, Issue 18543, 28 January 1924, Page 8

FOUND IN HARBOR

' CONSTABLE’S SAD FATE. BELIEVED TRIPPED OVER WHARF. Martin Gordon Smart, a constable stationed at the Central Police Station, was found in the Dunedin harbor this morning on the Rattray street side of tho Victoria wharf. For tho past week tho constable had been on _ night duty, and a part of his beat included the wharves. Ho was seen at 1.25 a.m. by a night-watchman, and then appeared to to be quite normal. At 1.45 Sergeant Dunlop went to pay the constable a visit, expecting to meet him at the Rattray street wharf, but no trace could be found of tho missing man. At 5 o’clock dragging operations were commenced, and at 8.10 tho body was found some distance from the Victoria wharf. It is surmised that the unfortunate man tripped into the harbor.

lie was single, and was twenty-six years of acre. He joined the force on December, 1923, and has been stationed continuously in Dunedin. _ Ho was of an extremely bright disposition, and his sad death is much regretted by his comrades, amongst whom ho was extremely popular. An inquest was opened this morning, when evidence of identification was given, by Sergeant M’lEmtee. The matter was then adjourned till 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.