INQUEST.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 4990, 15 February 1883, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest wai held by the Coroner, O. H. Borlase, Esq., at the Ship Hotel on Wed. needay afternoon, on the body of Denis Donovan, who had been found drowned in the river that morning. A jury of fourteen was empanelled, and Mr J. Barr was elected foreman. The following evidence was taken after the jury had viewed the body :—: — John Brennan, landlord ■of the Custom House Hotel, on being sworo, laid he had known deceased, Denis Donovan r for about four years, and the body lying there wu the same ; ho had been staying at witness' house for a fortnight before his death ; he had, been working on » contract up at J£akaramea ; he had not been drinking hard while staying at the house ; he was not at work while he was in the house ; he took lemonade and claret ; witness understood that from what deceased said that he had come into town to seek work from Mr Denby, and Mr Denby had told him he could not give him work at present, hut- Would give him first chance ; a man named Phillips slept in the same room as deceased on the night witiie-i saw him last j in the morning Phillips came into the bar, and said Donovan's clothes were in the room, but he, deceased, was v t there ; witness was present when the clothes of deceased were searched, and 5% was found in his pockets. Thomas Phillips said he had known deceased for 8 years ; witueas aud deceased on w aturday nigbt occupied the same room ; be first saw deceased at 9o' lock on Saturday night, they went to bed together »t th-jsame .time ; witness thought deceased went to bed sober ; deceased had two or three ' small beers ; he did not appear to be depressed or unusual in his manner ; while he ana deceased were in the bar deceased said that he would shake hands with witnes*, as it plight be the last time he wonld see him alive ; witness d«d not attach auy importance to the remark, and took it to mean that he was going away ; deceased did say he was short of money, but witucss was aware that he had none, so he gave him a £1 note j drceased changed the pound, *nd only three drinks were paid f rout of its i witness could not account for there only being 53 fonnd in the pockets of d- ceased when searched. William Gifford said that at 25 minutes paat six he saw a b dv lying under thft cattle wharf, and when assistance was obtained they 1 f ted it on to '< he wharf ; the only covering on the body wa« a shirt. Dr Connolly s*id t K at he h>d made a superficial examination of tie body, , and he had found no marks of violence ; it bad t*he appearance of a body that had been drowned and had bten l>ing in the water sombtime. The Corouer eaid that there w»s no evidence to prove how the deceased «ot into <he water, and the jury returned a verdict of " Found Drowned.!' '