THE INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 16

THE INQUEST.

Mr E. C Cutfen, S.M . acting-coroner, p;o,;dod at an inquest held on the l4tli inst concerning the death cf James Booth Rr>», lately an attendant at Seacliff Menial .Apyluiii, who, early on Wednesday in<">inirijj. was found drowned in the harbour. Tbo For\ ices of a jury were disposed with. Station Sergeant King was present on behalf of the police Dr Cor Jon Macdonald said that he had made a post-uioiiem of the body. Ho found ■-eieral biuise^ about the bii.w and ears, v, hich, howe*. fi. cjipearcd to be postmodern. Xo sigiis of \ iolence were on the bodj. A quantity of warer v. ?s in the and lunji ; otherwise t>iesp organs •\.^re in a noinial condition. All the other oiyans were in a norinil condition. Witness came to the conclusion ilut the cau«e of deith was drowning. The bod\ ai'^earod

to have been in the vatci for a week or 10 clays. Alexander Gray, hotelkeepor, stated that deceased came to his house (Pnnce of Wales' Hotel) on December 23, and lcinained there till between 9 and 10 o'clock on January 4. He left, stating that he was returning to his work. He took his luggage (a hand , bag) with him. He drank, but not to excess, and was sober and in his usual spiiits when he went away. Ho was of a quiet and retiring disposition, and had few if any close friends. He Lad been competing at the sports. Constable Carroll identified iho body. Deceased had been an attendant at Searliff Asylum for about 12 months. He was some 30 jears of age, a native of Scotland, and had ccne to New Zealand from South Africa 18 month 1 ; ago. So far as witness knew he had no relatives in the Dominion. Witness last saw him alive on Box'ng Day, when ho stated that he was on Ivo or (In on weeks' leave. From what witness knew of bun ho did not, regard him as n man likf-iv to commit suicide. Witness had heard flint deceased's bag had been found a( the Ra>lv.av Ftation. ha\ina- been 1- ft them on no 4ih in-;t. about 1 o'clock. The rojonoi's v-^Hir-t wa= that ihc dopoi«o<1 came by his d^atli h\ L^injr di owned

in Otago Harbour, there being rto evidence to show how te got into the water.