The Human Leg Mystery.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 14, 12 July 1887, Page 2

The Human Leg Mystery.

INQUEST —BOOT IDENTIFIED — THE VERDICT. The adjourned inquest on the leg found on the Wainui beach on the second instant, was held in the Court House yesterday before Mr Booth, Coroner. The enquiry, it will be remembered, was adjourned last week to allow of the boot being forwarded to Napier for identification. From a communication received by Sergeant Bullen it appears that the boot has been fully identified as that owned by Walter Simmonds, Engineer of the s.s. Sir Donald, which was recently lost with all hands somewhere on this coast. Sergeant Bullen gave the following evidence:—The boot found on the human foot (produced) by Constable Brooking I forwarded to Napier for identification, and from communication received from there I believe it was exhibited to Lily Simmonds, wife of the late Engineer of the s.s. Sir Donald, (Walter Simmonds), also to Edward Quinlan, brother of the late master of the Sir Donald, and to one Edward Merritt, who was at one time employed on the vessel. They, one and all, identify the boot as being one of a pair owned by Walter Simmonds who was Engineer on board the Sir Donald on her last trip from Napier. The jury returned the following verdict: — That the remains of the said man were found on the Wainui beach on the second instant, but there was no evidence to show how or when he came by his death; but that it is probable that the remains are a part of the body of Walter Simmonds, late Engineer of he s.s. Sir Donald.