INQUEST.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 23 November 1899, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at tbe. Court-house yesterday morning, before Mr 0. >J. Kettle Coroner, into the circumstances connected with tiie death of Mr • William Melody whose body was found on the beach near the mouth of the Wangaehu River, on Sunday last. The. following jury wis empanelled .- — Messrs J. W. Kirby, T. f-lenner-hassett, G. D. ,Jones, W. G. ohat.-ers, R. H. White, Thomas Dickson. Mr White was chosen foreman. Sergt. Dwyer conducted the inquiiy. or, behalf of the polico, and Mr Treahiell ap.peared to watch the proceedings. VI Tuku Woon, a lad residing at Wangaehu, gave evidence as to hnding the body on the' beach. John Patrick Mebdy, butcher, o f Aramoho, identified the body as that of his father, who was over 70 years of age, and resided with Robert Wheeler in a cottage about 600 yards froni the Aramouo railwnj station. On 7th November heard from Wheeler that deceased hi\d not own home I since tbe Friday pievious. inquiries ' wero made for him rr-und town, and it wai j found that he had been seen on ihe 6th. Did not apprehend anything hai occurred to him, as he had intended paying a visit j to a relative in tho country. He had been working at Mr McGregor's .sawmill at Ara* j moho, but not lately ■> There had been nr cause to fear fov his safety, as ' •• could xlways look after {linvielf. Found on the 10th that he had not been to hi.-* relatives, but as Le had many friend* in thy .ountry, it was thought that he might have gone on a visit to one of them. He w.is a little 'he worse for drink on the 3rd November, but had not been drinking. He was an ' old age pensioner, and a portion of his ■jension was due on lst November. Robert Wheeler stilted that he md been iving with deceased, and had no. s< en him the worse for liquor the whole time Last saw him alive about noon on tbe 4th, wnei. lie had apparently been drinking a little .but appeared to be alright. Thought tua' ■ill deceased's papers ,?vere in a nox in the -.■ottage. When deceased did not return 'bought he had gonc/linh-.- the- country to ies some friends or relatives. Alexander Reid, farmer, said he saw deceased on the 4th in the Albiqn Hotel, between 2 and 3 p.m., also about 6.15 p.m., vvhen he was walking along Ridj-vay St., 'rom the direction of the Post-Qlbcp. He vas not altogether walking straight, and ou'.d sco he was undec the influence of Irink. Saw him go into' the Commer•ial Hotel and come^oul again at ouce. He then went down towards tbe river bank md that was the last witness saw of bim. He was about two minutes in tbe Commerual, going in one door, and coming out of he other, and if he had a drink he muse .nive been served very quickly. William Meejian, licensee 0 f the Com■nercial Hotel, said that lie gaw depsa.sed on the 4th in the hotel, and as he appear ed to be under the influence of.jrink told him he must leave and he did so quietly md at once. He was not five minutes Cw tlie house. John Carmody, barman at the Commercial, said deceased was not sober when he Mine into the hotel on the 4th abont.-5.30 p.m. He did not ask for dHin;, but sat down. He was ordered -iwa\- by 'Mr Meehan, and was certain he had' ro drin'c in the hotel. John Scally, labourer, stated that he saw deceased about 7.30 p.m. on the 4th on the river bank just in front of Mr ueu«en s place Noticed that )ie was pretty ound, when he was standing with his back to Beaven s fence. Did not see bnn after* wards. „i„ J '. 2 M T e 'y. nHCC of the Albion Hotel, remembered deceased beuu in the hotel on the occasion that Reid »-oke of tie nas perfectly sober Uie body, to having it conveyed to the Wangaehu Hotel, and from theiwe to t he Morgue m Wanganui. Evidence was also "iven as to the examination of the body "ed ?o rM cVi ? USly SB:lri;he ' 1 ™cl di/g ?ed along both banks of the rive.Ihis concluded the evidence The jury, at the suggestion 'of (he Coronet, returned an open verdict of "Foiin ' Dead. I