ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18199, 21 March 1921, Page 2

ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH

BODY FOUND ON FORESHORE. INQUEST ADJOURNED. About 8 o’clock on Saturday morning the police was informed that a man’s body had been found on the foreshore behind Messrs Hogg and Co.’s timber yard in Roberts street. Inquiries showed that deceased’s name was Sidney Mossop,.and that ho was employed as a driver by tho City Corporation. Deceased, who was 67 years of ago, was a single man, and boarded at the Occidental Hotel, in Manse street. The body was removed to the morgue, where Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., opened an inquiry later in the day. Evidence as to the discovery of tho body was given by Andrew William Stott, an employee of the timber yard. Detective Beer said there was slight discharge of blood from the left, ear and blood on deceased’s right wrist. There were no wounds about the body. Sergeant M'Entee and witness removed the body to the morgue, where a more thorough examination of the body was made, but nothing was found to indicate the cause of death. Witness had known deceased for about eight years. He had been emoloyed by various firms as a carter, and lately by tho corporation, and was known to the police as John Mossop, a single man. Deceased was a very heavy drinker, and was frequently prohibited, having ’ many convictions for drunkenness and breaches of his order. Witness did not know if deceased had any relatives in New Zealand. On Friday deceased received his fortnightly wage of £8 9s 8d from the corporation. The police had a record sheet of convictions against a “Sidney” Mossop up to 1903, and there was another list from 1911 against a “John" Mossop. Witness had no doubt it was the same person. , , . Sergeant M'Entee added that a lady’s cotton glove was found underneath deceased. His clothes were damn, as if he had been there all night, but the glove was quite dry. There was no sign of a struggle having taken place. The inquiry was adjourned for a post mortem examination. It is presumed that heart failure was the cause of death.