DROWNING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2572, 5 August 1909, Page 4

DROWNING FATALITY.

MAN’S BODY -FOUND IN RIVER

About midday yesterday the police were telephoned for from the wharf office of the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Company, and the message was to the effect that the body of a nun had been found in tlie river on the Kaiti side. The body was first discovered by some workmen, and it was lying in the* mud, just alongside tlie new breastwork and close to the sand pump. On being taken out of the water it- was identified as that of Edwin J allies Norton, a single man, 41 years of age. and whose residence had been on the Kaiti beach adjacent to the Cook memorial. On the body being searched, a bottle of beer was found in each of the side pockets of the coat, and the inner pockets contained a lemonade bottle, full of whisky and a glass. No money was found on the body. The deceased man was seen about, town yesterday. Between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Constable Dwyer saw him, slightly under the influence of liquor, and advised him to go home. Norton then got into a cab and was driven off in the direction of Kaiti. Later on. about 5 p.m.. he was again seen by a man named Breig.au. walking along the breastwork, but nothing unusual war noticeable in his condition. The deceased was not. again seen alive, and it is surmised that- he must have fallen off the breastwork into the river, and been left on the mud bank by tho receding tide. The dead man’s watch had stopped at- 6.10. and although the body was only a comparatively short time in the water, one side of the head bore signs of the ravages of- the denizens of the deep. An inquest will be bold at the Courthouse, before the District Coroner (Mr. •>'. A. Barton, S.M.), at 2 p.m. to-day.