A MYSTERIOUS DROWNING CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3047, 7 November 1896, Page 3

A MYSTERIOUS DROWNING CASE.

At the inquest on the body of Margaret Robertson, who was found drowned at 'Wellington with a coat of an officer of the Union Company’s fleet on her, tile post mortem proved that death had resulted from drowirug. The evidence showed that Abred Phillips, chief officer of the Penguin, was in her company from half-past 7 to 10 o’clock on Sunday night, when he parted with her at the gangway of the vessel, as she refused to allow him to see her home. Parser Stevens deposed that he saw her on deck with Phillips, and at 10 o’clock heard him bid her goodnight. Phillips then joined witness, and remained in the latter’s cabin till nearly midnight, when he turned in. Connor, a fireman on the vessel, said that about half-past 1 o’clock on Monday morning he heard a woman scream, but thinking it was an accident took no further notice. In his evidence Phillips said that he last saw the deceased at the gangway on Sunday night. She appeared then as usual, and there was nothing between them to make her despondent. She had, however,complained of feeling miserable on Sunday morning. He first missed his coat, and it was while searching for it that ho discovered the remainder of her clothes, which he sent to her friends, and asked for his own to be returned. His coat must have been removed from his cabin between half past 10 and 11 o’clock on Sunday night, or whil-' he was asleep. Had he suspected anything wrong ho would have informed the police, and ho could not put forth any theory for deceased’s action. The Coroner in summing up said that the evidence was nusatia factory, inasmuch as there was nothing to show how the girl met her death except by drowning. He failed to see any inaccuracy in the evidence given by Phillips, but it did appear strange that a man who heard a scream did not enquire further into the cause. There did not, he added, appear to have been any foul play. After a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict of “found drowned.”