BATTERED BODY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 February 1928, Page 5

BATTERED BODY

FOUND IN LYTTELTON HARBOUR (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 4th Feb. The body of Charles James Mahan was discovered in Lyttelton harbour by Samuel Gilray, a nightwatchman. The blood was still gushing from the nian's head. His coat and shirt were saturated.

Gilray left the watchhouse as the clock struck 1 o'clock, intending to go as far as the extreme.end of the pier, and passing the swimming .steps he saw a body floating in the water. Two nightwatchmen and a constable set out in a boat to recover the body. Difficulty was experienced in getting it aboard, and all three were bespattered with blood from the man's clothing. His general appearance suggested that he had been but a short time in the water.

■ Deltective-Seyigeant Younjgi.'-together with other detectives nfid plain clothes constables, went to .Lyttelton this morning.. Robbery is believed to be the motive'. The police say that the murder was committed early last evening. Detectives found in the deceased's pocket a watch which had stopped at .9.53. Shunting operations were. in progress on the Gladstone pier last night, b'ut were completed long before 10 o'clock, and the spot which is unfrequented at night, would afford the assailant comparative security from detection.

- The inquest was opened to-day, when Charles Ludlow Mahan identified the, body as that of his father. He had last seen him alive on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ft afc Timaru, where he was a motor-driver employed by the Alpine Dairy Company. His father was then in his usual health. On Tuesday he received a telegram at Timaru from his father in Chrislchurch stating that he would be home on Wednesday. He did not return, but sent his wife's bank book home to Timaru. Witness became anxious and 'came to Christchurch last evening to try to locate his father. '

The inquest was adourned sine die.

SUGGESTION OF FOUL PLAY NOW DISCOUNTED

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. An inquest on the body of Charles James Mahan, who was found in the harbour, was opened on Saturday afternoon and adjourned sine die to enable the police to make further inquiries. The suggestion that there had been foul play is largely discounted by the fact th&t closer examination- 1 of the body is said to.Ji.aya revealed that none of the injuries*was sufficient to cause death. They are bad flesh wounds, but the skull is not fractured. It is even suggested that the wounds have been caused by fish, as shoals of dqg fish were round the body when recovered'. It is, however, rare, though not an unknown occurrence, for the body of a person whose death has been caused by drowning, to float.

DEATH DUE TO DROWNING

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dav

It is semi-officiallv stated that "the result of a post-mortem reveals that the death of Charles James (Mahan at Lyttelton was dne to drowning, not to wounds on the head. No further evidence has yet been secured as to the man's last movements.