INQUEST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11279, 28 May 1891, Page 3

INQUEST.

4n inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Ked Lion Hotel, before Mr E. N. Liffiton (coroner), on the body of the fisherman (Gun'n). * The following composed the jury :—S. Hooper, W. Dewson, G. Cbristison, Bradley, E. Buckrell, and P. Barley. Air Hooper was. chosen foreman. Kobert Forsyth stated—Am a fisherman at Caatlecliff; recognise the body now lying on the premises as that of ' Donald Gunn, fisherman, who resided at Castlecliffj have known him for fifteen yeats, and was partner with him: saw him for the last time on the morning of Wednesday, the JOfch inst., at about 7 o'clock j he left to go fishing in a boat over the Wanganui bar; JK. Busbridge was with him; he was about 58 years of age, and single; he was a native of Bossey, .Scotland; he had been in the colony 30 years. Edwin Wall gave evidence —Am fa fisherman residing at Putiki; was outside the Wanganui Heads fislring on Wednesday, the 20th instant; saw the boat the deceased was in lying oft about half a mile from my boat; about 3 p.m. it came on to blow j ran my boat up the bar, expecting deceased to follow; he did not do bo till about 4.40; he came close past me, and Tan up to the bar, and then out again; he passed close enough to me to speak j Busbridge sang out " there is a heavy sea on the bar; I replied, "that I had made tip my mind to stay outside till top of high tide, when I would go in;" but got no answer back; when I last saw. the boat Gunn and Busbridge were in it, they were making for Kapiti; the" wind was then south westerley, and changed about 7 p.m. to west-south-west; got in over tho bar safely at that hour. Frederick Philpot' stated —Am a fisherman at'the Heads; went out on Tuesday morning and searched the beach, and found that of Daniel Gunn, near the mouth of the Kaitoke Stream; it was near high water mark; the body was lying face seawards; then went back to Castlecliff, and telehoned from there to the police in town. Constable Crozier —Am a police Constable, stationed at Wanganui; went to the beach on the 20th inst. to search for the body of the missing man, and found it about a mile south of the Kaitoke stream, it was lyintr about a chain below high ■water mark; the body was naked from the wci'st up, and was considerably disfigured", the left arm was deslocated at the shoulder, and part of the flesh torn . from the-ribs; secured the body, put it into a sacking, and placed it above high water mark; procured an express and removed the body of deceased to where it now lies;.also found a fisherman's coat some distance to the south of where the body was found; the,coat was identified ■by Forsyth as being'one worn by the de- - ceased. Edwin Wall re-called—Found the boat of the deceased last Sunday morning, the 25th, about 500' yards on the south side 1 of the Wangaehu Eiver; the boat is badly damaged, the sail was hanging over the bow; the anchor was there, and also the sails, more or less. The jury returned the following verdict: i —"Thatthe deceased was accidentally drowned whilst following his occupation as fisherman.