BODY ON BEACH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23089, 14 July 1938, Page 20

BODY ON BEACH

MAN FOUND AT ORhKEI

S VERDICT. OF DROWNING An inquest into the death of Walter Withy, aged 58, pensioner, whose body was found on the beach at Orakei, opposite the Maori settlement, early on the morning of June 24, was held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, coroner, yesterday. Michael Cahalau, licensee of the Carpenters Arms Hotel, Grey's Avenue, said he had known deceased, who kept match-vending machines in the city, for the past nine years. On the afternoon of Juno 21, deceased came to the hotel and made arrangements to stay for several days. Two days later, when deceased toid him he was leaving for the country, he had stated: "I do not know where, but I have got to go to the country, and if I know of anybody going to town, I will send them to you." Deceased appeared very vague, witness continued, aud did not seem to understand what the people he was talking about were going to do with him. He did not mention the name of anybody and left the hotel the same night. Witness expressed the opinion that deceased appeared to some extent mentally unbalanced during the three days ho had stayed at the hotel. A barman at the hotel, Jack Morrison Daley, said he saw deceased in the bar on the night of June 23, when ho seemed depressed. Describing the finding of tlio body, Constable C. E. Colling, of Kohimarama, said that about 7.30 a.m. on June 21 he found a body on Orakei Beach. Although there was congealed blood about the eyes, nose and mouth, thero were no apparent signs of injury. Details of a post-mortem examination were submitted by Dr. W. Gilmour, who said that in his opinion death was duo to drowning. In returning a verdict in accordance with the medical ovidenco, the coroner said there was no evidence to establish whether deceased committed suicide or not.