FALL INTO HARBOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 13

FALL INTO HARBOUR

accidental drowning VERDICT OF CORONER A verdict of death by accidental drowning was given by the coionei, Mr. F. K. Hunt, in the inquest which was held yesterday into the death of James Clarke, a news agent, of 5'J Wairoa Koad, Devonport, whose body was found floating in the harbour by the Devonport ferry wharf at 2. HO p.m. on December ;!0. Evidence was given by men employed nt the ferry wharf that on the day of the finding of deceased's body the weather was rough and the ferry boat Ngoiro, on hoard which Mr. Clarke was seen shortly before the finding of his body, was pitching fairly heavily. No one had been found who had seen Mr. Clarke fall into the harbour. Dr. A. H. Kirker, who was called to examine Mr. Clarke after he had been brought up from under the ferry wharf, said that ho had found death had been due to suffocation from drowning. bringing in a verdict of death by accidental drowning, the coroner said that on the day of Mr. Clarke's death the weather had been rough and the deck of the boat slippery, and ho thought that deceased had accident ally fallen into the harbour.