THE RECENT DROWNING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8885, 23 May 1892, Page 3

THE RECENT DROWNING ACCIDENT.

An inquest on the body of Francis Turney, who was found drowned in the harbour on Friday morning, was conducted by Dr. I'hilson, coroner, on Saturday afternoon, at the house whore deceased lived, in Angleseastreet. Mr. William J. Andrews was the foreman of the jury. Constables Foreman and Mackay represented the police. Evidence was given by the carpenter of the ship Timaru, William Williams, who saw the body floating near the ship and secured it. Mr. Williams said that the body was fully clothed except the head, and a hat was in the water near by. Constable Mackay, of the Water Police, who went out and took charge of the body when the third officer of the Timaru reported the discovery to him, deposed that it appeared when found to have been in the water from ten to twelve hours. Deceased's watch had stopped at fifty-seven minutes past five o'clock. In reply to questions as to the unprotected condition of the wharves and other places abutting on the harbour, witness said that to fence some places at the brestwork near Queen-street Wharf would obstruct traffic. The licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Mr. C. H. Doidce, deposed that he had identified the body, as he had known Turney for the last ten months. When he last saw deceased alive it was in Queen-street, on Thursday afternoon. He and Turney conversed for about half-an-hour. Deceased was then in good spirits, without any appearance of depression, nor did he have any sign of drink. He said that he was going for a walk, and went down Queen-street. While talking with witness, Turney spoke about going to San Francisco next month, to work at his business, that of a saw doctor. Mrs. Turney deposed that her husband was 4G years of age. He was of a cheerful temperament, and a very sober man. On Thursday afternoon he told her that he was going out for a walk ; and when he did not return in the evening, she thought it strange, as he was usually punctual. It was not customary for him to be out at night. Witness became alarmed when her husband did not come home on Thursday night, and on Friday morning sho made inquires without result. A little before one o'clock that day sho learned that he been drowned. As there was no direct evidence which would show how deceased met with his death, the jury returned an open verdict, "Found drowned." The foreman suggested a rider recommending that chains should be placed on the wharf for the protection of life. The coroner said that such a recommendation had been made many times before, and had been treated with indifference. The foreman did not think any harm would be done by repeating it. Too many valuable lives had been lost in the harbour; but probably nothing would be done until 0110 of the officials or members of the Harbour Board had fallen into the harbour. A rider was therefore added to the verdict, calling attention to the necessity of further protection for life at the wharves. One of the jurors was not in favour of the rider.