DISCOVERY OF SKELETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19469, 27 October 1926, Page 14

DISCOVERY OF SKELETON.

IDENTIFICATION OF REMAINS. A SIX-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY. The mystery surrounding the disappearance from his homo at Onehunga over six years ago of Mr. Lawrence Callaghan, aged 50, was solved yesterday at an inquest held before Mr. W. 11. McKean, S.M., coroner. The skeleton of a male was found by two boys among a patch of undergrowth in Waikowhai Park on September 7 last, and the bones have now been identified as those of Callaghan. Frederick James Munro, who knew the deceased, said he had examined the skull found at Waikowhai, and the shape of the head was similar to that of Callaghan. The fillings in Callaghan's teeth also corresponded with those in the skull, and the pipe was identical with that smoked by Callaghan. About two months before the disappearance of deceased, witness said he bought a pair of boots for Callaghan, and those found near the bones were of a similar make, while the rubber soles were also the kind used by Callaghan. Deceased was in a particularly bad state of health before his disappearance. Catherine Mary Callaghan, wife of deceased, said her "husband disappeared on August 17, 1920. Prior to that ho had been ill and was in bad health the day he left home. Sho was certain the articles found belonged to her husband. Dr. D. N. W. Murray, who examined the skeleton, said there was nothing to indicate the cause of death. The coroner found that the remains were those of Lawrence Callaghan. There was no evidence to show how he met his death, which had occurred about August, 1920.