THE SUMNER FATALITY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 9

THE SUMNER FATALITY.

VERDICT OF FOUND DROWNED. An inquest touching the death of Samuel Brain, whose body was found floating in the water at Sumner on Wednesday afternoon, was held by Mr 11. W. Bishop, district coroner, yesterday. Frederick William Dudney, draper, said he was a brother-in-law of deceased. Deceased had been slightly depressed of late. He could not swim. Ruth Naomi Brain, wife of deceased, said he had a good coufec.tioner's business in High Street. To witness's knowledge, deceased had no business worries. He was 55 years of age. He left his home on Wednesday morning at about 8.40. Witness was informed, about 10.30, that deceased's business was closed. The police were then informed. The next she knew was that deceased had been picked out of the water at Sumner. George Henry Lister, motorman, said he was driving the 1 p.m. car from Sumner when he saw a man whom he believed to be deceased sitting on the rocks close to the point where the body was found. About 2.15 p.m., when driving his car back to Sumner, witness saw deceased in the same position. On the return journey from Sumner, witness saw the body lying face down wards in from three to four feet of water. The Coroner returned a verdict of "Found drowned," there being no evidence to show how deceased got into the water.