DROWNING TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 10

DROWNING TRAGEDY

INQUEST WITHOUT BODY WITNESS SEVERELY EXAMINED (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 3. A course rarely taken—-that of holding an inquest into the death of a person whose body has not been recovered—was decided on in the case of Edward Henry Hawkins, aged 20, of Birkenhead. On May 2!) Hawkins’s companion, John Bl'aokum Anderson, reported that a boat had capsized in the harbour, that _he had left Hawkins clinging to it, and himself had swum first to a hulk in the harbour and later to the shore. Pie last saw Hawkins clinging to the drifting boat about noon. After reaching the hulk ho collapsed, aud it was some hours before he reached the shore. The police had since searched the foreshores, with no sign of the body. The inquest was opened to-day before the corner (Mr F. K. Hunt). Mr Sullivan watched the proceedings for Anderson, who was the first witness. Anderson said that Hawkins suddenly stood up in the boat, and fell overboard. Witness jumped into the water after him; Hawkins gripped him, and after a struggle witness released himself, and endeavoured to hold the boat while Hawkins climbed in. This effort failed; the boat capsized, the oars disappeared, and the boat began to drift, -with Hawkins clinging to it. Witness swam, keeping out of reach of Hawkins, but the boat drifted faster, and got ahead. He then decided to swim to the hulk, and climbed up the anchor chain. He collapsed, and when he recovered swam to near Bayswater wharf, where two men helped him up the the embankment and over the fence. He then went to a wharf shop, and told a girl, Miss Craig, what had happened. The girl for the police. Anderson was questioned lengthily by Detective Sergeant Doyle concerning alleged discrepancies in his statement. He said he dived off the hulk and swam ashore.

Detective Sergeant Doyle; If we show there was not more than two feet of water there at the time, what do you say? Witness: I deny that. Asked why, if he was friendly with Hawking and his family, he did not notify them of the accident, he said the constable told him not to. He did not know which constable it was. or when he told him. Detective Doyle: Do you still say that when you reached the embankment you were assisted by someone? —That’s what I recollect.

Two witnesses will say you jumped over the fence.—l wouldn’t say whether it is true or not. Did you tell a man named Davidson that Hawkins’s body would never be found? —He was very curious, and I told him: “I don’t think they will ever find him.”

Did you say there would be no inquest as the police would never find the body?—No; I did not. Reginald Tabuteau and Nance Brown gave evidence that they saw Anderson swimming to Bayswater wharf, tie jumped over a fence 6ft high and ran down the wharf to the shop. He did not appear distressed. The captain of the ferry steamer said that, though keeping a good look-out on the noon trip, he saw no sign of an upturned boat or of any person swimming. Detective M'Whirter gave evidence regarding the inquiries made. He said the foreshore had been thoroughly searched and the harbour dragged by the, police, but no trace was found of the clothing described by Anderson as lost by him or of the deceased’s body or any of the deceased’s clothing. The coroner (to the father of the deceased) :'ls there any other inquiry you would like? , . .. “I think the police and the detectives have done their duty thoroughly, replied Mr Hawkins. The coroner: I think so, too. A verdict was then returned that the cause of death was drowning on May 2J. “I must say it is very extraordinary, a very extraordinary case,” commented the coroner. “It is strange that the punt which Anderson said floated away wrong side up should be found 24 hours after right side up. I leave the verdict at that—in other words, it is an open verdict.” , , , Counsel commented that there had been a fair inquiry and presentation ot the facts by the police.