CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 498, 17 June 1865, Page 5

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest wns held, at (he Royal Hotel, Onehunga, yesterday, beforo Dr. Pliilson, on tlio body of David Williams, who was found drowned in the Munukau harbour on Tuesday last. Tlie jury having b°cn einpannelled, tho following evidence was taken : —

William Groom, on being sworn, said: I om it firm labourer, living at Ihumatabe. I was workiug at Manguric on Monday Just, and on going to liiy house I wms informed by Mr. Ellett that a biat had been scon drifting down the harbour towards Weekes' Island, and that the boat was low in the wnter. The weather being rough that night I did not search after the boat then. Next morning at moonlight (2 a m.), I took a dingy and went round Weeics' Island, to lnok after the boat. I found tho boat lying on the rocks, full of water. I saw a dark object lying on one of (lie thwarts ; I put my hand on it, and found that it was the body of a man. I immediately made the boat, fast, leaving the body in the boat. I then got my breakfast, and came to Oneliunga and gave information to the police. I saw tho body agnin afterwards, in the boat, and found that most of the water was out of tlie boat. The water in the boat was stained with blood. I made no examination of the tody, but was shown a pocket which was turned inside out, by Mr. Ifobertson, of Mang r • rie. I had 110 knowledge of the deceased. I saw iKail outside of the boat. There wero 110 oars in boat. Samuel Smith sworn, said : I am a constable in the Armed Police Force ttationed at Onehunga. On Tuesday last I received information from last witne*tluit 11 dead body had been found in a boat nt Weeko'B Island. I proceeded with constablo Lloyd in a boat towards tho place on the same day, but the water being low we could not reach the spot. On the following day T made another attempt to reach tho place, and arrived there shortly after 1 o'clock. I found the boat (paintfd wliite) near the rocks, floatin"- with a dead body in it. It was tho body of a man. lie was lying with his back upwards across one of the thwarts of the boat. His head hung down I lifted the body, and recognised it as that of D. Williams. I believed that deceased was a seaman. Ho lived in Onehunga for some time. I discovered 110 marks of violence on tho body, but I saw blood mingled with the water in the beat. Tho body was clothed with grey tweed trousers, secured with a belt. The right pocket, was hanging out. I examined the pocket ; it had a small hole in it. Ihc left trousers pocket was not hanging out. The deceased had also u blue serge smock and a white flannel next tho skin. The body was not decomposed much, and might have bct-n in the v.';,.ter about two davß. I saw a mast and sail alongside the boat. The sail was made fast to tho boat. I took tho boat in tow, and brought it to Onehunga. I deposited the Vdy in a house at tho back of the Royal Hotel. I should say that the deceased was about ~- r > years of age. Deceased bears no marks of having been murdered. James jMeKke deposed as follows : I am a laborer residing at Onehunga I ltnow tho deceased about two or three months. Do was a sailor, but had worked lately at the South Head for Captain Wing. I last saw the deceased fdivo on Sunday afternoon, between three and four o'clock. He was then in a small boat belonging to Hugh Evans preparing to leave for the Heads. Charles Moore was with him. C. Moore was a carpenter, employed at the Heads. Ho is at present missing. 1 spoko to both Moore and deceased. Moore was sober, but deceased was rather worso for liquor. When tho boat left Moore was rowing it. There was a sail and mast in the bo t Th ere was not much wind when tho boat started. Both Moore and deceased were competent to manage a boat. I put two dogs 011 board before they left, the 011 c a terrier, the other a Newfoundland dog. I saw tlio body of deceased on Wednesday and identi-. tied it as that of T). Williams. „ My opinion is that deceased lost his life through wet and cold rather than by drowning. I think the boat, must have filled with water and that deceased clung to the boat. I have 110 suspicion that the deceased was murdered Tho missing man has left a wife and five children. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict'of—" Found dead in a boat, which was washed on Weeke.'s Island on Tuesday, Juno tho 13th instant, no marks of violence being found 011 tho body." The jury added the following rider to their verdict,—" r J hat it is desirable flint a dead house should bo erected at Onehunga, that tho police be provided with a boat and drags*'