BODY FOUND ON BOULDER BANK

Nelson Evening Mail, 17 May 1917, Page 4

BODY FOUND ON BOULDER BANK

THE INQUEST. Yesterday afternoon Mr Alexander Stuart, launch owner, discovered the body of a man in shallow water on the Boulder Bank near the Magazine The body was brought ashore, and taken to the' Morgue. In the evening the body was identified by Mr H. F. West chemist, as that of Ben Doual, about 60' years of age, who had oeeii doing gardening work for him. , An inquest was held at the Courthouse this morning before Mr E. Davidson, acting 'Coroner. . Constable McGregor represented the police. ~ , . i)r H. E. A. Washbourn, medical practitioner, stated that he viewed the body of an elderlv man at the morgue yesterday afternoon. The head and face 'were considerably decomposed, but tho body was in a better state of preservation. There were no marks of violence visible, and the cause of death was uncertain. The appearances were consistent with death by drowning. It "was doubtful if a post-mortem examination would throw any further light on the "ause of death, owing to decomposition and the ravages of sea lice and crabs. The body had been in the water less than a week. Alexander' Stuart, launch proprietor, } Port Nelson, stated that he discovered the dead body of n man in shallow water on the Boulder Bank close to the Magazine, at low water yesterday afternoon.; i He. hauled the body out of the water j and informed the police. The body was fully dressed. Henry Francis West, chemist, Nelson, stated that he saw the body at the morgue last evening, but could not iden : tify it owing to decomposition. He recognised the clothing as that of Ben Doual's, who had lived with him for about three weeks and attended to his ; garden. Deceased had been about 18 ; months in Nelson, but formerly resided |at Christchurch. He was about 60 years or age. Witness last saw him on Satur--1 day last in the morning, but he had tea in his house in the evening. Deceased . left about 6 p.m., saying he was going ■ to the pictures. He did not return. Deceased did not enjoy the best of health. He complained of 'having giddy turns, and going blind occasionally. "Witness • j suggested that he should see a doctor, 1 but deceased declined. There was nothing peculiar in his manner. He was. worried over the way. he considered his estate was being ladministered in Christchurch. He used to go fishing off the wharf. By the Coroner: There was no diff erenco in' his manner when he left on Saturday.Kate Guy, boarding at the Provincial Hotel, said she knew a man called Berf Donill bv the name of Donald. He lived at the hotel last year. She remembered seeing "him on Sunday morning last about 8.30 by the hotel. She conversed with him. He was quite sober. He went down Bridge-street, ■ and that was the last-she saw of .him. By the Coroner: Deceased did not say what he was going to do. Constable McKenzie, of Port Nelson, gave evidence of bringing the body to the shore. He found the following- articles on the body :—three small keye, atached to a chain; two pairs of steel-, rimmed spectacles; small leather purse ! containing one penny; several small i fish hooks; and a newspaper dated May : 12, 1917. The body was fully dressed, j and wearing an overcoat. . . ' ! The Coroner returned a verdict of. ! found drowned, but there was no evii dence to show how deceased came into the water. , . .■