THE DROWNING ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8889, 27 May 1892, Page 5

THE DROWNING ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOUR.

An inquest on the body of James Keilty, found in the harbour near the Devonport wharf on Wednesday, was conducted yesterday at Gleesou's Hotel by Dr. Philson, coroner, Mr. H. E. Woollams- being the foreman of the jury. Sergeant Kelly and Constable Mackay represented the police. Evidence of the finding of the body was given by D. J. Shaw, who discovered it at twenty-five minutes past seven o'clock in the morning, when launching a dingy from the Devonport wharf to go on board the cutter Start.

Sergeant Kelly stated that when ho saw the body, soon after it was found, it seemed to have been only 10 or 12 hours in the water. It bore no marks of violence. Froth at the mouth and nose showed that death had been caused by drowning. There were in the pockets of deceased the sum of £2 Os 10d, and a batting ticket on Hurricane in the Takapuna Steeplechase. H. W. Watkin, a clerk in the Auckland Savings Bank, deposed that Iveilty had £10 to his credit in that institution. Last December he had £.50 in the bank. Mrs. Lindsay, of the Flagstaff Hotel, where deceased took his meals, deposed that he was always sober when he came there, and was so when at the hotel on Tuesday night.. Henry O'Brien, at whose house deceased lodged, said that Keilty was not a sober man.

Daniel O'Connor, restaurant-keeper, who hid known deceased for about two years, deposed that Kielty, who was a farm labourer, was a native of Ireland, and was unmarried. lie had been in the colonies for about 40 years, principally in Australia.

Henry Crook, one of the jury, gave evidence that lie saw deceased at the Takapuna Races on Tuesday. Keilty then ap peared to be half drunk, and was having an argument with a man about a ticket. The foreman of the jury remarked that lie was at the races on Friday, anil saw only one man drunk there. A verdict of " Found Drowned " was returned.''