FOUND DEAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5802, 20 January 1906, Page 9

FOUND DEAD

THF BOTANICAL GARDENS CASEAn inquest was held yesterday afternoon concernin£ the death of Alfred Cooper, whoso b«,dy was found in the Botanical Garden* on Thursday, Mr .1. Ashcroft. District Coroner, conducted the inquiry, ami Constable G. 11. William* rcprcMUited the police. Henry Hooper de-cribed the finding of the remains of the body in the gully running south Horn Glenl.ervie terrace. About eight weeks ago saw deceased among the tret*.-, about one hundred yards from whole the l>ody was louml. Con*rahlc Reekie staled that tJr>> body was little more than a skeleton. Beside il was n bottle containing a small quantity of white liquid. Sainpel Thomas Cooper, carter, brother of deceased, identified the remains at tiie morgue by papers and clothing. Had not seen his brother for the paat three months, hut thought ho was about the town. About twelve months ago deceased disappeared fur about throe week*, and he was found near Island Bay. He seemed a little •Strange” »ometimes, but as far as witness knew he suffered from no di&easo. George J. Harris stated that lie was in the Botanical Gardens with Mr Hooper about eight weeks ago. Saw a man among tho trees, and particularly noticed his overcoat. Since tho body was found, witness bad b(*en to the spot where he bad seen the man, and found a piece of the overcoat which corresponded with that found upon the remains. _The man seemed to Ik.* weak, but. nothing particularly wrong with him. Did not speak io the 7imn. Jaiin*N T. Allan, keeper of the Steamboat Ilestnrant, knew deceased well, and last «aw him alive about November Bth or 10th. Deceased was boarding with witness, but did not say lie wa.s leaving. "Was not .surprised at bis departure, because deceased bad been living li on cnslit” for some time. Cooper bad no money, and had not boon working for about three weeks prior to his departuic from tho restaurant. Robert Clark, brother-in-law of dosoasrd, said that about ten weeks ago ho made private inquiries concerning tho whereabouts of Alfred Cooper, but could gain no information. Cooper was a man given to “rambling about,” and it was expected that he would turn up at any time. A report wits put in from tho Government analyst, stilting that the fluid found in tho bottle lying beside deceased was merely water. A verdict was returned of found dead.