"FOUND DROWNED."

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 40

"FOUND DROWNED."

An inquest was held last week at the Morgue, before Mr J. Ashcroft, Coroner, on the body of the young woman Margaret Robertson, whoso body was found floating in trie harbour on Monday evening. Mr Ahradsen was chosen foreman of the jury.

Inspector Pender represented the police, and Mr Ollivier appeared on behalf of Mr Phillips, chief officer of the Penguin. Dr Tripe, who held the post-mortem examination of the body, deposed that he found a very slight bruise on one of the thighs. In describing the condition of the organs of the body the doctor said that the stomach contained food, and smelt of some spirit —he thought rum. He had removed the stomach and was keeping it and the contents for further examination if necessary. The liver was hard and seemed to show that deceased was in the habit of drinking excessively. Death had resulted from asphyxia through drowning. The body had been in the water probably about 2'l< hours. Frederick Arnold, labourer, deposed to finding the body on Monday evening floating at"the Queen's wharf, and gave notice to the police. Constable J. Poland gave evidence as to

seeing l the body in No. 2 berth. The steamer Penguin had left the same berth abouti 5 o'clock. When he got the body ashore, he found that it was clothed in an officer's, coat (produced) and a pair of men's braces and women's underclothing. In the pockets of the coat he found some papers and a Union Steam Ship Company's time-table. The buttons of the coat were those of the Union Company. Deceased was in the habit of drinking, but witness had never seen her drunk.

Charlotte Bowden, storekeeper, said that she knew the deceased, who was not married. Deceased had been a servant to witness over three years ago. Witness saw her alive last about 8 o'clock on Sunday night, and deceased did not appear to have been drinking. Mr Phillips, chief officer of the Penguin, was waiting for her when she left witness' house. On Sunday afternoon deceased appeared to be very strange in her manner. About 12 months ago she attempted to commit suicide. On the day following that on which witness last saw deceased a boy from the steamer Penguin brought to witness' house some of deceased's clothing, and asked that " the coat should be sent back." Later in the day Mr Phillips called and asked witness if she had seen deceased. He gave witness deceased's hat.

By Mr Ollivier: Mr Phillips and deceased were very good friends. Charles Sydney Stevens, purser on the steamer Penguin, deposed to seeing deceased on Sunday evening about 5.30 on board the steamer with the chief officer. They were on the deck. Deceased had been on the vessel before on Sunday afternoons. Mr Phillips told him next morning that he had found her clothes in his cabin, and asked if she had been seen. The coat (produced) witness thought belonged to Mr Phillips. About 10 o'clock on Sunday night witness heard Phillips say "Goodnight" to the deceased at the gangway. He and Phillips were together afterwards in witness' cabin until close on midnight. Phillips appeared to be much puzzled as to how the clothes came in his cabin. Witness did not know whether deceased had anything to drink that night. Phillips was quite sober. Patrick Connor, fireman on the steamer Penguin, deposed that about 130 on Monday morning he was in his bunk in the Penguin's forecastle ; there was another man present. They heard a woman scream, and thought that some wo.nan had slipped on the wharf. They did not hear any more noise, and did not trouble to go out.

Andrew Bennie, employed on the Penguin, deposed to taking a parcel to Mrs Bowden's on Monday morning, also a letter addressed to Miss Robertson from Mr Phillips. Martha Bradnock and Mary Ann Callin also gave evidence. Alfred Phillips, chief officer of the Penguin, was called, and said that he knew the deceased very well, and saw her last at 10 o'clock on Sunday night at the gangway of the vessel. He had been in her company from about 7.30. She appeared to be the same as usual, and was not excited, and witness was not aware that she had been drinking. She was fully clothed when she left the steamer, and said that she was going to her lodgings, but had a call to make on the way. The coat (produced) was his, and he believed the

braces were also, but he had not missed them. He missed his coat at 8 o'clock on Monday morning when dressing. He went to his cabin about midnight on Sunday last, ond did not leave it until 8 o'clock on Monday morning. The deceased was not with him during that time. On looking for his coat he found her clothes (produced). She must have taken his coat between 10 and 11.30 p.m. Witness did not think she could have entered his cabin and taken ti.e coat while he was there without him knowing it, but he might have been asleep whilo she did so. There was nothing between them that would make her despondent, but she complained on Sunday night of feeling miserable. If he had suspected anything next morning he would have informed the police. He could not put forth any theory for deceased's strange action. He knew she had attempted suicide on a previous occasion. On Sunday night she refused to allow him to see her to her home. This was all the evidence taken. The Coroner said the evidence was unsatisfactory, inasmuch as there was no evidence given as to how the deceased got into the water. He failed to see any inaccuracy in Mr Phillips' evidence. It seemed strange that the men who heard the scream did not make enquiries as to whence it came. There did not seem to have been any foul play. After a short deliberation, the jury brought in a verdict of found drowned.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr C. Thomas, who was for many years chief cook at the Oceidcntal Hotel, and latterly at Bellamy's, had a narrow escape from being- run over in Mercer street. He was crossing the road, and was not seen by a young man who was leading a horse attached to a heavily-laden dray until Mr Thomas was almost under the horse's feet. As it was, Mr Thomas was knocked down, and, being 70 years of aga and very feeble, he was much shaken. He was picked up by some passers-by, and after resting for some time was able to go home. The driver of the dray, while endeavouring to stop the horse, received a severe,blow in the mouth from the shaft, which caused the blood to flow. But for his promptitude, Mr Thomas might have been seriously injured. At 5.40 p.m. on Thursday a fire broke out in a detached stable at the rear of Mr T. Howell's shop, Kiddiford street. The stable was partially destroyed, and a quantity of hay was burned, the damage amounting- to about .£lO. The shop was insured for £ 10'> in the Phcenix office, but the stable was not insured.

An old man named Michael Daley, whilst speaking to a man in Tory street on Friday afternoon, was seized with a fit and fell on the roadway. He was removed to his home, Cambridge terrace, in an unconscious state, and was afterwards attended by Dr Mackin. Dalej died about 8 o'clock last night. The deceased was about 05 years of age, and leaves a widow, but no family. On Friday last as an expressman named Larchin was driving to the Manawatu Station, his horse became restive, kicked him out of the seat and bolted. Larchin sustained a bad fracture of the leg below the knee. Fortunately for him Mr Gould, the Manawatu stationmaster, was immediately on the scene and rendered effectual first aid by placing the limb in splints, and sending the sufferer secure against further damage to Dr James. Another instance of the value of the work done by the St. John Ambulance Association. A man named George Carson, who was engaged in driving a Corporation watercart, met with a serious accident on Monday afternoon in Panama street, close to the General Post Office. He was seated on the cart, and whilst looking back to see that everything was in order, the vehicle gave a sudden jolt, and he was precipitated on his head to the roadway. At first it was thought one of the wheels had passed over his body, but on ex-

amination this was happily found not to be the case. Carson recoived a sharp wound on the back of the head, and was in a semi-un-conscious state for some time. Sergeant O'Malley and Constable Johnston were immediately on the scene, and the latter telephoned for Dr Henry, who, an arriving, dressed the sufferer's wound, and ordered his removal to his home in Russell terrace. Christchubch, November 6. Mrs P. Pentecost, wife of a farmer at Rangiora, fell dead on the road while on her way to that township to-day. She was about 60 years of age. Auckland, November 4. The man who dropped dead in Custom street has been identified as William Prendergast, of Taupaki. A post-mortem showed that heart disease was the cause of death. Deceased was running to catch a tram when he fell dead.

The residence of Mrs Antleman, Opuanahanga, Whangarei, was burned down. The building was insured for .£250 in the North British.