SUSPECTED MURDER OF AN AMERICAN GENTLEMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7650, 29 May 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUSPECTED MURDER OF AN AMERICAN GENTLEMAN.

Lloyd's Weekly of April 11 says :—Oα Tuesday in last week a waterman named George Windle, residing at 12, Greanway's Court, Mayo Koad, Southwark, found the body of a gentleman floating in the Thames, near Battle-bridge-stairs. Tho body was conveyed to theHorsleydown mortuary, and on examination was found to bo that of a fine-built, well-dressed nua. TUB IJJQtfKST. On tha Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr. Wynne Baxter, at the Vestry Hall.—-1-eorge Windle, the waterman, gave evidence as to finding the body.—lnspector Pritchford, of thu Thames police, stated that the man was unknown, and there was no clue to lead to identification.—Mr. W. Allan Fitz-Raytie, surgeon, residing at 10, Freescliool-strect, Horeleydown, said that he was called to feeo the body a3 soon as it was brought in. It was that of a wellbuilt man, from 45 to 55 yeara of age, with rather broad shoulders. The hair was of a brown colour, with board and whiskers round the face, ami a alight moustache. He had not made a poat-mortem examination, but he observed a great bruise extending nearly all over the face on the lett cheek. it seemed to him to be the result of a severe blow inflicted during life. The tongue waa partly protruding between the teeth, and both hands were clenched. In reply to the coroner, he said he was quite sure it was no mark received after death. It appeared to bo the result of great violence. The deceased scorned to have died from asphyxia by drowning, and in bis opinion ho had boon ill-treated first, and then thrown into the water alive. Ho considered that the body had been in the water somewhere about a month.—lnspector fritohard said the police had not received any information of any such person missing.—The jury, who aaid perhaps it might be the body of some stranger in London, then returned a verdict of "Found drowned, but as to who the deceased was, or how he got into the water, there was no evidence to show." SUPPOSED CLUE, A brief report of the inquest appeared in an evening paper, and a few uouro afterwards Captain Ulead, a gentleman residing at tuo Laugham Hotel, sent a telegram to Dr. Uayno as follows :—".' "••Vβ friend missing, Gft high, cquare built iwn hair, fall beard and moustache, fair complexion. Does the body found correspond with this description ? Please reply to Captain Stead, Laugham Hotel." The '.liioer immediately communicated with the coroaof's officer, and waa just ill time to prevent the body from being sent oil in a parish shell to bo buried in Wokisig c-nistory, On making further inquiries, our special reporter discovered that a wealthy American gentleman has been missing for a mouth past. Mr. Frederick Russell Nourse, a member of one of the best families in New York, it appears, being slightly out of health, determined to take a trio to England, lie arrived iu London on tho 21 sb of February last, and \va3 in constant correpondonco with hia wife, whom he left in New York with two children. On the morning of the 3rd of March last he went to Eustou station for the purpose of going to Liverpool, having engaged his berth on board the Adriatic, which was to start on the following day. Ilia portmanteau arrived at Liverpool, but not Mr. Nouse, and from that time he had not been heard of. His friend oQ'ered a reward of £100 for discovery. The interment of the body has now been delayed for the purpose of further inquiries. Considerable surprise, not unmixed with indignation, is naturally felt at the hasty manner in which the coroner seems to have shut up the inquest—the body having been found one day ; the inquest held the nest; the order given for burial in a pariah shell tho text, with no time or means allowed for public inquiry whatever. On Saturday Captain Stead and Mr. Nourse, a brother of the missing man, went to ace the body of the gentleman found in the Thames ; but on their return stated that they could give no opinion v.a to identity. If the body found in the Thames is not that of Mr. Xoursc, a doable myotery 13 developed. Who is the man found in the river, and whore is Mr. Nourse ?