BODY OF UNKNOWN MAN DISCOVERED IN TIMARU HARBOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18448, 26 April 1928, Page 16

BODY OF UNKNOWN MAN DISCOVERED IN TIMARU HARBOUR.

WEIGHTED WITH IRON BARS; INQUEST REVEALS NO SIGN OF IDENTITY. (Special to the “Star”). TIMARU, April 25. The identity of the man whose body was found floating in Timaru Harbour yesterday morning is still unknown. An inquest into the circumstances of the man’s death was opened this morning, at the Public Hospital, before the Acting-Coroner, Mr G. Ilastie, and a jury of six. , Dr C. S. Fraser, who conducted the post-mortem examination, deposed that the body was that of a man six feet in height, and weighing 12 to 13 stone. The skin was lacerated over the whole body, which was in an advanced state of decomposition, portions of the flesh being missing. Indications were that the body had not been in the water over three months. There were no signs of valvular disease, and the man apparently was in his prime. Questioned by the Coroner as to signs of violence, the doctor stated that there were two holes in the throat, but he could not say whether they were ante-mortem or post-mortem, on account of the decomposition. The fact that portions of.the flesh were missing he accounted for as the action of fishes. The body was too decomposed to prove anything definitely, but the appearances suggested that death had resulted by drowning.

Detective H. Nuttall said that, in company with Sergeant Peterson and Constable Walden, he had examined the body. Across the front of the body was an iron bar 29 inches long and 2 inches wide. This bar was secured at the end by a length of rope yarn, and a loop was passed over the back of the neck. Attached to the long bar was another bar, nine inches by two, which was also secured with rope yarn. The rope was tied around the body in such a fashion as would keep the bars against the body. This rope was tied on the left front side of the body in a granny knot. Describing how the rope was bound to the wrists, the detective stated that the knots had evidently been tied, by a person experienced in t3 T ing ropes.

To the Coroner: All the knots were tied in front of the body, and in his opinion the man could have tied them quite easily himself. The clothing on the body had been carefully searched for marks, but nothing could be found that would assist in establishing the identity of the man.

At this stage the inquiry was adjourned sine die, to enable the police to make further inquiries.