MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MR. THOMAS S. COPPOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5063, 7 February 1878, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MR. THOMAS S. COPPOCK.

We take the following from the Sydney Morning Herald of the 30fch ult. Mr. Cop. pock was well known in this city, and was for some time manager of the Auckland Evcniny 2fews, but when that journal ceased to exist, some years ago, he left Auckland for Sydney, where, we regret to say, he met with such a melancholy fate :— The City Coroner held an inquest yesterday, at the Brecknock Arms Hotel, Georce street North, respecting the death of a nfaa named Thomas Sydney Coppock, whose body was found on Sunday afternoon between some rocks on the ocean side at Wateon's Bay. Mr. John Edmund M. Russell, lithographic draughtsman, of 1 17, Stanley-stre-t who identified the body, said he had known the deceased some time; deceased resided near witness, and was abont 34 years of ag<> ; he had been employed "as a" canvasser ; Witness last saw him alive on Friday mornir--.;, when he was perfectly sober; he was not in the habit of drinking to excess. Mr. George Matthews, an agent, of 242, Palmer-street, said he knew the deceased, whom he last saw alive in King-street, about 7 o'clock on Friday evening, when he was quite sober: witness asked him if he was going horned and he replied " Yes;" soon after they started deceased said, " George, I can't go yet, I have some business to do at the office," and then returned alone; witness did not see anything about deceased to excite suspicion, and did not consiier him the sort of man who would commit suicide. Henry Dobson, labourer, of 112, Kent-street, said he and a man named Smith went on Sunday afternoon to Watson's Bay, and, after descending a place called Jacob's Ladder, which is formed of projecting rocks, and is about 120 feet high, lie strolled about; seeing a large crab, he gave chase, and followed it to the spot where he discovered the body of a man, which was lying betv-'een the rocks, with the face downwards. The only clothing on the deceased were trousers, shirt, and one boot. Witness obtained assistance, and attached a rope to the body, which was then pulled up to the top of the rocks.—David Smith, shipwright, of 151, Kent-street, who accompanied the last witness, gave corroborative evidence, and added that the deceased could not have got in the position in which the body was found by falling down Jacob's Ladder, as it was about 200 feet distant.— Constable White also gave evidence to the same effect.—Dr. Charlts Eichler, of 54, Bridge-street, said he examined the deceased on Monday morning. Death must have taken place two days ago. He found fractures on the skull, arms, and left thigh, and there were several wounds on the budy, such as would have been caused by falling against projecting rocks. In his opinion the injuries were received by a fall, and were the cause of death. After tho City Coroner had summed no the evidence, tho jury returned a verdics that the deceased was found dead, but how the body came in the position in which it was found the evidence did not Shov,'.