FOUND DROWNED

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11876, 9 July 1924, Page 7

FOUND DROWNED

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH.

BODY FLOATING IN HARBOUR.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of an elderly man named William Scott Brierley, whose body was found floating in the harbour on Sunday last, was conducted before the coroner (Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M.) at the Maigjstrate’s Court yesterday. ' , Called by Sergeant Scott, who was representing the police, a young man named John Edward Ptercival stated that gt about 11.20 a.m. on Sunday he saw the body of a man floating in the water some distance from the Pipitea wharf. The wharf police were communicated with, and the body was recovered. . A labourer named James Roland Yelloby said that he had last seen deceased alive on June 14th. A week previously he left tho hospital after recovering from an attack of bronchitis. He appeared to he in an ordinary state of health. Two days later witness learned that deceased was missing. It was customary for deceased to engage in an occasional walk around the waterfront; His eyesight was not of the best, and after his discharge from the hospital he did not appear to be particularly fit. Evidence oanceminlg the recovery oi the body was given ,by Constable Ishister. Two handkerchiefs bearing the initials “W. 5.8.” were found in tne pockets. The coroner remarked that the evidence had not disclosed how the man had got into the water. It was disclosed that he was short-sighted, and that he occasionally walked round the wharf.

The verdict returned was that the deceased was found drowned on July 6th last, but that there was no evidence to show how he had got into the harbour.