FOUND DROWNED

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1934, Page 8

FOUND DROWNED

ANOTHER GREY RIVER VICTIM. For the second time within a week, an inquest was held, at 'the Courthouse, Greymouth, yesterday afternoon, to inquire into the death of a victim of drowning in Grey River. Yesterday’s proceedings concerned the death of Janies Wooley, aged 45, a fireman of the s.s. Kaimiro who was reported missing on August 17, and whose body was found on the Nine Mile Beach on Tuesday afternoon. | b

Mr A. Naylor J.P. acted as Coroner, and th e j ur y was comprised of Messrs J. Perrin (foreman), A. Mundy, P G. Smith and M. Buckley. Sergeant Isbester conducted proceedings for the police. Rex Michie, able seamen of the s.s. Kaimai said that he had indentilied the body at ’the Greymouth Morgue as that of James Woolley, fireman aboard the s.s. Kaimiro, whom he had known for three or four years. Witness had last seen the deceased about. August 8, at the railway station, when he was in his usual health and spirits Deceased d.id not drink to excess. He was a native of Liverpool, and 45 years of age. George Hill, licensee of the Imperial Hotel, said that he knew the deceased. On the afternoon of August 16, about half-past thre e the deceased came into the hotel with three or four men. After having a drink the deceased went up town and returned about 4. 30, leaving again about 5.45 p.m. Th e men and deceased had a few drinks, but were all perfectly sober when |they left. During the last three months deceased had been a frequent visitor to the hoteK He was an average drinker but witness could not say that he had even seen him under the influence of liquor. As far us witness knew, he had no enemies, and during the last afternoon he was in the hotel be had no quarrel with his mates. Constable J. L Patterson said that on August. 17 a complaint had been received by the police from the Captain of the s.s. Kaimiro that one of his fireman were missing, named James Woolley. As a result exhaustive enquiries were made on the vessels in port and in town, and the vessel sailed before the deceased’s body was recovered On August 21, information was received that there was a body of a. man on the • Nine Mile Bea'ch and witness and Constable Swan went there and recovered the body. The body had only trousers, waistcoat and shirt on, and the right boot and sock were missing There was a mark on the top of the head, and on the knees and ’trunk of the body there were other abrasions, i The marks wer e consistent with the body, having beeu knocked against the rocks. When witness was making inquiries, on th e evening that the complaint was made he interviewed one of his companions on board the Kaimiro- Jack Bass who made a statement (produced) which staled that he (Bass) last saw the deceased alive in front of the Oriental Hotel at about 11 p m., on August 16. when h e was alone and under the influence of liquor. He (Bass) could not say whether the deceased was going back to his ship' or not when he left him. i Deceased was a person who was not capable of looking after himself when he got a few drinks in Sergeant Isbester requested that Bass’s statement be put in as evidence. Mr Perrin (to Constable Patterson): Would the injuries to the deceased be consistent with having been caused before or after death. ’

Constable Patterson: Tn my opinion they were caused through contact with ro'<-ks after death. The Aetirig-CVrroner said that there was no clear e vl^enee whether the deceased got into '.the river accidentally or intentionally, but it was for the jury to say and they could retire to consider their finding if they wished. Mr Perrin said that there was no need for them to retire. They had already reached a finding that the deceased James Woolley was drowned in the Grey River, on or about August 16, 1934, there being no evidence to show whether he got in'to the river accidently or intentionally. The funeral of the late James Woolley took place yesterday afternoon, and was largely attended by fe’low seamen from the five vessels in port, as well as watersides and unemployed workers. Th e floral 'tributes included those from members of the crews of the ss. Kini, Kaimai, Karepo. Kiwitea a»d Abel Tasman. The services of Holy Trinity Church were conducted by Ven. Archdeacon J. A. Jermyn.