FOUND DROWNEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10193, 30 October 1894, Page 2

FOUND DROWNEE.

The body of a rc:in was observed floating, face downward?!, in the water near the stapn of the Rattray street wharf shortly after midday on the 20tu inut. by two wharf labourers named Alexander Antiau and William Caldwell. Information was at once given to the police, ' and under the direction of Constable M'lnSyre j the body, which, was fully dressed, excepting for the absence of a hat, was removed temporarily to a ehed at the Wharf Hotel, whero it was recognised »s that of Alexander C.urick Martin, son of Mr B. B. Martin, one cf f.h« oldest of Otngo residents, with whom he hud been in this business of land agency in offices in the Colonial Bank Buildings. Tho deceased, who was 27 years of age, left his home, Htiwtaorn avenue, Mornington, about 8 p.m. on 1 Friday, stating that ho was going to do some work at his offico and that ho would return at 10 o'clock; but the family heard no more of him until tho sad intelligence of his having been found drowned was communicated to them on Saturday afternoon. A inquiry was held on Monday before Mr C. C. Graham (actinff-corouer) aud six jurors, of whom Mr James Hoisburgh was chosen foreman. Mr .1. F. 31. Ifraser watched the proceedings on behalf of the Scotch Metropolitan Life and Accident Insurance Company, and Mr Hodgkins appeared for tba deceased's relatives. Kichard B. Martin, jun., identified the body on view as that of his brother, Alexander Carrick Martin. He laat saw the deceased alive on the night of Friday, the 19th inst., at about 8 o'cluck. On the following day, at between 2 and 3 p.m., he saw his body in a shed at the back of the Wharf Hotel. _ Deceased appeared to be in his usual good spirits when he left.home on Friday niKht, and asked witness to remain up for him, adding that he would be back, at 10 o'clock. Witness knew that deceased was in monetary difficulties, and he went to his office with the object of furnishing witness with a statement of his financial affairs. Deceased never gave witness any reason to suspect that lie intended to take his own life.

George Xornb, a clerk at present out of employment, stated that he saw the deceased on Friday night a little after 9 o'clock. He was in his company for some time and left him at 10 minutes to 10 uear Jacobs's shop in IMnces street. Deceased said he was going to catch the 10 o'clock car and would see witness in the morning. Witness did not see him again till after his death. Deceased appeared to be in very good spirits when he left him.

William Caldwell, seaman, deposed that at about 10 minutes to 1 o'clock on Saturday he was going underneath the Kattray street wharf in company with Alexander Annan, when he saw the body of a man. The head was on the stones, the body across a waling, and the legs were in .the water. Annan went for the polics, and when he returned witness and lie and the wharfinger removed the body on to the wharf. Witness saw a bottle lying on the platform of the steps just above where the body was found. The body was subsequently 'removed to the Wharf Hotel. When the body'was found it was lying with the face downwards, sitid the stomach resting on the waliug of the wharf. The body was in such a position that it might have been floated on to the waling with the tide. The time was ebbing at the time the body was found.

Walter Rico, whaifinger of the Otago Harbour Board, deposed that'he was going home at about half-past 1 on Saturday when he was1 informed thattliere was a desd body under the steps of the lUttray street wharf. He proceeded to the spot indicated, and then telephoned for the police. He also had the body removed from where it was on to the wharf. Immediately above where the body was found he picked up a small phial (produced). It bad a label on it marked poison, and also a label bearing Mr Bannister's name and the words "prussic acid." The phial was empty when he fcnind it. i Samuel Spencer Bannister, chemist, deposed that the deceased came to his shop between 7 and 8 o'clock on Friday evening and asked for a little prussic acid to kill a dog with. Witness told him that he never sold prussic acid, but said he would give him a little as he had known him so losig. He gave him about half a teaspoonfiil. .Deceased did not sisn for it, as there was no Eale. It was questionable whether the quantity he gave him would kill a man. Deceased seemed quite calm and collected, as he had usually known him to be. The bottls produced was the one witness gave him. Witness had known deceased ■ intimately for many years, and had not tha remotest suspicion that he intended to take thepruesic acid himself.

Constable M'lntyre, who ha.d' the body conveyed to the "Wharf Hotel; stated that he could flud no marks of violence upon it. In deceased's pockets there were 10s Gd in silver, a silver watch and chain, and some keys. The watch wasatopped at five minutes past 10. DrOgston deposed that he had examined the body of the deceased. He came to the conclusion from carts in marks upon the hands, and the; rigid condition of the hands, that the deceased had struggled a little before death. Deceased appeared to have died from some form of asphyxia, auch as would be caused by drowning or by taking prussic acid.- He had heard the evidence aa to the quantity of poison that had been given deceased ; and such quantity as was mentioned was not a poisonous dose. Mr Hpdgkins: Not fatally poisonous ? Witness said the dose was not fatally poisonous if Mr Hodgkins liked to put it that way-. A dose such as had been referred to mighfe produce giddiness if takes. If the deceased fell into the water, the shock would to a great extent counteract the effect of the poison and restore consciousness. There were appearances of bruising about the nose and the chin, which indicated that the deceased might have been thrown up or struggled up to the place where hi 3 body was found. When people were drowned their bodies always floated face upwards unless there was something to prevent it. Taking all 'these facts into. consideration, it would appear that the deceased had died by drowning. Witness could not detect the slightest trace of prassic acid on the body by a test which ho had never known to fail when prussic acid had been taken, The Coroner intimated that that Was all the evidence unless the jury wished another point cleared up. Mr Fraser pointed out that no evidence had been called as to .whether the deceased could swim, or as to whether he intended to poison a dose. . ■ ■■■•".■.'... The Foreman asked if it was necessary to take evidence upon those points. Mr Fraser: There are pecuniary interests involved outside turning perhaps upon a very slender point. '. Percival H, Martin, brother of the deceased, stated that he could give evidence on the points alluded to by MrFraser; andon being sworn he said the deceased informed him about three weeks ago that he intended to poison a dog. Witness suggested that he should givo the dog away, or try and get the original owner to take her back; but j deceased said that he di;i not think the owner would be bothered with her, that she was a useless brute, and that he would get rid of her. Deceased was a capital swimmer, To Mr Fraser: Witness did not know whether deceased's life was insured or not. Mr B'raser: You know as a matter of fact that he had an accident policy for £500 ? .Witness: I know that he had an accident policy, but I thought that he had allowed it to lapse. I did not know what the amount of the policy was. The Acting Coroner having reviewed the evidence, The Jury retired for a few minutes, subsequently returning a verdict of " Found drowned."