THE LATE MR. CHARLES LAMB.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13097, 4 May 1911, Page 2

THE LATE MR. CHARLES LAMB.

THE INQUEST.

DEATH PURELY AN ACCIDENT.

The inquest on the body of the late Charles .Lamb, which was found on the beach at Tahuna on Monday, was resumed yesterday by the Coroner (Mr. J. S. Evans). Sergeant Mullany represented the police. Mr W. S. Milner watched proceedings on behalf of deceased's relatives, and Mr. H. V. Gully was present on behalf of an unnamed client.

The evidence of Dr. Gibbs was taken on the previous day. Percy Bartholomew Lamb, son of deceased, deposed that his father was 52 years of age, and had always en-( joyed good health. At half-past one on Sunday afternoon last his father told him that he was going for a bicycle ride, and that was the last time he saw him alive. He was then in his usual health and in good spirits. As deceased did not return on Sunday evening 'he thought he had gone to Wakefield on business. When he did not return by Monday morning's train he made enquiries about him. His father had purchased a business in Wanganui, and had intended leaving Nelson on Tuesday morning His mother was going with deceased, but ho (witness) was remaining in Nelson. His brother in Sydney had been asked by his father to join him in the business. His father was well pleased with the prospects of his business in Wanganui, and had no financial worries.

John Woltor, tea merchant, deposed that he saw deceased standing on the beach below the Rocks road wall at the end of the asphalt about 2.15 on Sunday afternoon, holding his bicycle. There was blood on deceased's .face. He said he had fallen over the wall. Deceased walked back to the steps by himself, and witness and Mr. Blundell took deceased to the water trough. Mr. Blundell washed the wounds on his head, and witness asked deceased where his bicycle (which was broken) should be sent, and he replied, "Oh, everyone knows me, Charlie Lamb, Tasman street." They remained with deceased until 3 o'clock. He told deceased he could get the Tahuna 'bus back to town. Mr. J. Lock's express then came along, and deceased gave him the bicycle, with instructions to take the bicycle to a cycle dealer's in Nelson. Deceased was then trembling, and appeared to be suffering from shock. He said he would be all right if he had something to steady his nerves. The men in the express gave him a glass of beer, and he (witness) then left him. Deceased said he had been stunned by the fall, and was a bit dizzy. When he left him he appeared to be able to take care of himself. He was on the sands until 4.30, but did not see any more of deceased.

Frank M. Batchelor, clerk, deposed that he asked Mr. Lamb when he was on the beach if he was hurt much, and he understood that he replied that he was not. He offered to give Mr. Lamb a hand up, but he said he would walk along to the steps. Mr. Wolter was with deceased, so lie went on his way to Tahuna. There was sand and loose stones on the asphalt at the place where deceased went over, and if a cyclist struck a stone ho could not see how he could save himself from going over the wall. In his opinion the track where deceased met with the accident was dangerous owing to the loose gravel and stones.

John Thomas Blundell, wood and coal dealer, deposed that he washed the wounds on deceased's head at the trough on the road. Deceased told him that his bicycle had come in contact with a stone, and that he had been thrown over the embankment. Deceased said he felt a bit shaky on it. After Mr. Wolter left deceased said he would like to have a lie down somewhere. Witness offered to go with him to the first hotel, and try and gain admittance, but deceased did not want to go. Deceased also declined to go along to the "Basin." Deceased apparently did not want anyone to see him with blood on him. Eventually deceased consented to go and lie down above the embankment, and promised to stay there until witness returned from the rocks. While there he saw deceased walking slowly towards the Port, near the trough. This was about 4 o'clock. Deceased appeared to be sensible and was evidently shaken, but appeared to be able to take care of himpelf, The last 'words deceased said to him were, that he would go home with witness when he was ready. Thomas Jones, a retired farmer, residing in Tasman street, next door to deceased, deposed that while moto-r----ing along the road near Tahuna, at about 4.45 p.m., he saw deceased walking towards Tahuna. His wife called out, "Hullo, Mr Lamb; what arc you doing here?" but his reply was indistinct. He slqwed. up, witb. the intention of asking deceased to ride back with him,, but on turning round deceased was still walking away and he drove on. He did not notice anything peculiar about decoased. William Frank Pollew, machinist, deposed that between 5 and 5.15 p.m. he saw deceased walking briskly on the sands and smoking, about 500 yards on the Tahuna side of the black stump, towards the Blind Channel. He called out, "Good-night, Charlie," and deceased waved his hand and said "Good-night." He called out to him to come down on to the harder sand, and on looking back he saw that deceased was making for the hard sand. Knowing deceased had had an accident that afternoon he thought it strange that he should be on the beach at that time of night. The tide was then flowing very fast.

James Hart, manager of the city gasworks, deposed that he found the body of deceased, 12 feet below high water mark, about 250 yards on the town side of the black stump. A constable arrived a few minutes afterwards.

By penmission of tlio Coroner Mr. Hart suggested that the railings should be continued along the llocks road wall, as the track, at present unprotected, was dangerous. Constable Coles deposed that deceased's body was half covered with sand, and the face was partly buried in the sand. He had the body removed to the morgue. Deceased's watch was stopped at 5.15.

The Coroner found that death was caused by drowning. He was satisfied that the fall from the bicycle had dazed deceased, and that he did not know where he was going. There was nothing to indicate suicide, and death was purely an accident, due in the first place to the injury received to his head. The Coroner said he would make representations to the County Council to have that part of the wall protected, as it was dangerous.