PRESTON ROAD TRAGEDY.

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1928, Page 2

PRESTON ROAD TRAGEDY.

SATURDAY’S INQUEST. An inquest was held, before the District Coroner, Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., on Saturday, concerning the dentil of Mary O’Connor, aged 3 years, who was drowned on Friday afternoon in the lagoon between Preston Road and Cowper Street. The proceedings were conducted by Sergeant J. Smythe. Mrs Mary Josephine O’Connor said that deceased was three years of age. She resided with witness at Preston Road. She was playing with other children around the house yesterday afternoon. There was a lagoon at the rear of the house, but witness did not see the child near the lagooon. She missed the child about four o’clock, and searched for her, being assisted by one of the boys, but found no trace of the child. About five o’clock the body was found lying in the mud of the lagoon at the rear of the house. Herbert Leach, a next-door neighbour, said that he found the child’s body, which was lying on the mud-flat at the rear of his residence, about fifteen yards from the fence. The tide had gone out, and left the body. From the position of the body, he reckoned that, when the tide was in, there would be only about a foot of water, and no current. He did not hear the child scream during the afternoon, although he was working in the vicinity all the time. The body was lying face downwards, and there were no marks on it. He found it about 5.45 p.m., and was present when Dr W. McKay unsuccessfully applied artificial respiration. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned in the lagoon near Preston Road.