THE SKELETON MYSTERY.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1837, 21 November 1874, Page 2

THE SKELETON MYSTERY.

COEONEE'S INQUEST.

Dr Kilgour, Coroner, held an inquiry at the Court House this morning oh view of the remains of a human being discovered in the bottom of the Prince Imperial shaft. The following jury was empannelled:—Messrs. James H«rne, E. G. Bellers, T. Millett, T. Dunlop, A. Unthank, D. M. Macintyre, M. Eily, E. Thomas, J. K. Whitford, 0. Bell, J. Corbett, J. Frater. Mr Frater was elected "Foreman.

Messrs Hicks and Andrews, miners, who had been employed to clear out the Prince Imperial shaft, deposed to the finding of the remains—consistingjof bones and clothing.

Captain Goldsmith, Mining Inspector, gave evidence as to the position and description of the shaft, the principal point in which was 'that no person could have got down the shaft by accident. John Devine, a friend of Kinivan's, deposed to the state of mind of KimVaa before his disappearancs, and the ,circum.stances immediately antecedent to his being missed. His description of the

clothing worn by Kinivan agreed in some respects with the clothing found. Patrick O'Sullivan gave similar testimony regarding the clothing of Kinivan.

Mathew Kiniella's evidence was the strongest as regards the identification of the remains. He identified the remains of a scarf as one which he had given Kinivan on the West Coast. Sergeant Elliot, A. C, gave evidence as to the slate ef mind of Kinivan before his disappearance, and also as to receiving the remains found in the shaft.

The Coroner summed np the evidence, when after considerable deliberation the jury returned the following verdict :— The jury are of opinion from the evidence they have heai'd that the remains are those of Patrick Kiniran: There is no evidence to show how those remains came to bo placed where they were found.