INQUEST ON BODY FOUND IN THE HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7404, 12 August 1885, Page 5

INQUEST ON BODY FOUND IN THE HARBOUR.

An inquest on the body found in the harbour was held at Gleeson's Hotel yesterday afternoon by Dr. T. M. I'hilson, Coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr. Geo. Sheehan was chosen foreman. The body having been viewed, the following evidence was taken -Richard Levour deposed that he was a labourer living in Abcrcrombiestreet. On Monday afternoon he was engaged dragging alongside the Northcote Ferry tco for some iron which had fallen over the wharf somo months ago. Shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon the dead body of a wau was hauled to the surface. The Water Police were at onca communicated with. The body was much decomposed. Witness had not heard of anyone being missing. — Frank O'Cou* tiell, wharf labourer, deposed that he was engaged in dragging for iron on Monday afternoon with the previous witness, whose statements aa to the finding of the body he corroborated.—Sergeant Clarke, of the Water Police-, deposed that he was informed of the finding of the body by the previous witness a little after four o'clock on Monday afternoon, and at once proceeded to the spot. The body was in a high state of decomposition, the features being almost entirely destroyed. He thought the body must have been in the water for nine or ten days. The particulars as to appearance and clothing of the body as given by the witness were similar to those already published. The card, on the back of 'which was written "Thomas Kelly, Post Office, Wade," was a business card of the Masonic Hotel, Waitara. Witness did not observe any marks of violence, and thought death was caused by drowning. The police wore endeavouring to trace his identity. No one had been reported as missing.—William Butler, barman at the Thistle Hotel, deposed that although he could not be sure as to the identity of the body, yet it greatly resembled that of a man who had come to tho hotel about three weeks ago, and who said he had come from Oneliutiga. The man, whose name he did not know, had left his swag at the hotel, and had never begn heard of since.—Tho jury, without retiring, gave a verdict of "Found dead in the harbour.''