THE DROWNING FATALITY.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 18, 5 March 1918, Page 2

THE DROWNING FATALITY.

An enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of William Lucena, of Picton, whose body was discovered in the harbour near the Havelock wharf early on Saturday morning, was held at the Cottage Hospital in the afternoon before Mr W. H. Smith (Acting-Coroner) and a jury of four.

Nicholas Gestro was the first witness examined. Ho was the driver of the launch Wainui. He had known deeeasfcd about 8 years. He left Picton early on the previous Tuesday with deceased and two other passengers. After landing the latter at a port en route, the launch arrived at Havelock at about noon on Thursday with only deceased and himself on board. He was engaged to carry the s.s. Elsie's mails. He received the outgoing mails the same night. Both deceased and himself slept on board on Thursday night. They left early next (Friday) morning, and after going a short distance returned at de-

ceased’s request to got £5 worth of cartridges left behind by deceased. We •went up town and deceased went off to pee about the cartridges. We had one drink at the Masonic Hotel, and after that ho (witness) did not see the deceased again till, the afternoon. He then said ho had had a sleep. I said: “Well we can’t get out now, the tide has gone.” In the evening deceased said “Come for a joy ride to Okaramio.” Wc went to Okaramio and returned to Post Office Hotel, where we were staying. Were at Wooster’s about five minutes and had only one drink. He considered deceased was sober, and he was sober himself. He told deceased they would be leaving at daylight next morning. Deceased then said "Goodnight” and went to bed. To a juror witness said he was satisfied deceased had gone to bed, though he did not look in his room afterwards. Witness continuing said he left the hotel about 5.30 next (Saturday) morning by himself to go to the launch. It had never been his practice to call the deceased. Ho got the launch all ready to start and then went on to the wharf, when he saw the body of deceased in the water 12ft. or 15ft. off the end of the wharf. Ho immediately returned to town to get assistance and to inform Constable Douglas. To a juror witness said he ought to have left Friday with the mails, but owing to having “lost the run” of deceased he had again missed the tide. The Coroner: Very loose way of carrying out a mail contract. R. J. Horton gave evidence as to the time of the delivery of the cartridges, which hud been delivered at wharf at about 9.45 a.m. on Friday morning. There was no one on the launch when the goods were left, but they were signed for by deceased at the Post Office Hotel within half an hour afterwards. To a juror witness stated that he had previously had trouble to get boat-notes signed at the Elsie’s boat. Evidence was given by C. C. Harris, who stated that he had seen the launch return again to the wharf early on Friday morning, and had heard an argument between Gestro and deceased about some cartridges. On Friday morning he went to the Commercial Hotel to ask for Gestro and was directed to the Post Office Hotel. He was told that Gestro was away ojg a motor ride. He left a message for him that all the Sounds goods were on the wharf and should be removed to the launch as they might be stolen. Evidence was also given by Mr P. J. O’Donoghue, licensee of the Post Office Hotel. Gestro and deceased had booked room No. 1, with two single beds, for Friday night, and as far as he knew they both slept at the hotel that night. Later the beds in No. 1 were examined by Constable Douglas and himself, and it was found that one of the beds had not boon disturbed, and the other appeared to have been just laid on. Gestro and deceased were on very friendly terms. In bis opinion deceased was not intoxicated on Friday evening, and ho had no idea when ho left the hotel. Constable Douglas (sworn) ‘ stated that on the 28th February he saw deceased in. company with Nicholas Gestro at the Post Office Hotel, On Friday he saw deceased in company with Gestro and another man singing and playing the piano in the same hotel, and on two occasions on same afternoon they were playing the piano and singing at the Commercial Hotel. At 7.30 p.m. same day he saw Gestro and deceased in company with some ladies. They drove away in a motor car towards Blenheim. At 9.45 p.m. the motor car with Gestro and party returned to the hotel. There was continuous singing and sky-larking going on till 11 p.m.

At 5.45 a.m. on Saturday morning Gestro camo to the Police Station and said his mate was drowned. He said he did not know how he got drowned, but he could see the body in the water off the end of the wharf. On going to the wharf he (witness) asked where the body was. Harris, who was standing on the wharf, said “1 do not know, unless that is it,” pointing to a dark object in the water. It looked like something floating, and not like a body. He (witness) then got into Mr Pope's launch and went to the object, and then found it was the deceased. He was in 2Jft. of water, 30ft. from the wharf, and about 35ft. from the launch. The body was lying on the left side with hand stuck in the mud. The body was removed to the morgue. The body was quite limp but cold.

Dr. Williams stated that he had examined the deceased soon after taken from the water. He was then quite dead. Later on, under the direction of the coroner he had made a post mortem examination. There was no discoloration, or external marks of violence. There was no sign of disease. In his opinion there was no doubt death was due to drowning. Death probably occurred after 3 o'clock on the morning ’io was found.

After a short retirement the jury returned the following verdict: “That the deceased, William Lucena, mot his death on the 2nd March by drowning, there being no evidence to show how he got into the water.”