FOUND DEAD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 31 August 1880, Page 2

FOUND DEAD.

About noon to-day, the Victor Johns, formerly bailiff in the Resident Magistrate's Court, was found dead in a' small houss at the rear of Mr. Leigh's auction .room, Thames-street. The deceased had for some time been residing with a Mrs. Dale in Itchen-street, but had left about a week ago, jffor some days he had not been seeii about town, and a Mr. White, a friend of the deceased, going to, thp house this mo.rningj his suspicions were, aroused by finding the door, locked,, and the key iqside. The assistance of Constable Christie was obtained and an entrance effected into the hous'e. There the deceased was found lyin'g in bed undressed, and quite dead. Dr. Garland, at the request of Sergeant B.eatty, viewed the body, and states that the deceased had been dead for three or four days. The cause of death is so far a mystery, but a post mortem examination is" being held, and this may bring the cause tp light.

"'"INQUEST7" A coroner's inquiry touching the death of Alfred Yict.or Johns was commenced at four o'clock this afternoon, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., District Coroner, and the following jury : —John Hardy (foreman), J. Hunter, Wm. Menzies, S. Bryce, J. M'Donald, N. Swinard, C. P. Roberts, J. C. Simey, H. Aitken, J. Lawson, . Wm. Bee, W. J. Smith, N. Lane, and S. Newey. The jury having viewed the body, some discussion took place as to what day the inquiry should be adjourned 'lnspector Thompson mentioned that a post-rrjprtam examination was being made, and that a number of articles found in the room had been taken charge of by the doctor until the postmortem had been completed, he could not say whether or not ! it would be advisable to send these things to Dunedin for analysis by professor Black. It was ultimately decided to adjourn the inquest until 10 a.m. on Monday next, at the Star and Garter Hotel.