ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 76, 11 March 1933, Page 5

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED

PORT WATERSIDER'S DEATH. THE CORONER’S VERDICT. Yesterday morning the body of a waterside worker named James Gustav Peterson, a single man, aged 33 years, residing at 77 Waghorne street, Poft Ahuriri, was recovered from the Iron Pot at a spot close to the stringers upon which fishermen and others frequently sit. The inquest was held at the public morgue yesterday afternoon, as a result of which the coroner, Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., returned a verdict that the deceased met his death by accidental drowning in the Iron Pot, there being no evidence to show how he got into the water.

Constable R. A. A. Prater conducted the proceedings os, behalf of the police. Evidence was given by Rupert Oscar Peterson, a storeman employed by Murton’s, Ltd., and a brother of tho deceased, to the effect that the deceased was a single man, aged 33 years. Witness last saw him alive at 7.30 o’clock on Tuesday morning, when he appeared to bo in normally good health and was in the best of spirits. He did not have any financial worries. He used to contribute towards the support of his mother and had an insurance policy for £lll. It was a habit of the deceased to sit on a stringer on the north-eastern side of the wall of the Iron Pot, just where his body was later recovered. As far as witness knew, ho was not subject,to fainting fits.

Evidence was also given by Herbert James Morton, a watersider, of Port Ahuriri. He told the coroner that on Tuesday last he got a job on the meat trucks, but the deceased was not chosen. As his work did not commence until the next morning, he spent some time with the deceased, leaving him. at about 12.45 p.rn., when each went to his home for lunch. He did not see the deceased alive, but was present when his body was recovered from the Iron Pot.

“Deceased was perfectly sober when lie left me and was in his usual good health and spirits,” continued witness Henry Williams, a watersider, of Port Ahuriri, related in evidence how be bad dragged the bed of the Iron Pot an 1 had recovered the body of the deceased yesterday morning. Deceased was fully clothed and his body bore no marks of violence. At no time had lie, Io witness’ knowledge, any suicidal tendencies. He was n self possesse-1 and calm typo of individual. Sergeant .1. W. Chiasen stated that ho was present when the deceased’s body was found. The body was taken to the morgue and examined. No marks of violence were found except an abrasion and a bruise ou the right side of the head.