NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
MISCELLANEOUS DEATHS OF UNKNOWN VICTIMS

Please Note: In many of these cases the newspaper report was not from the local newspaper.

INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Commercial Hotel, Otahuhu, yesterday, before Thomas Moore Philson, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man whose name is unknown.
The following jury was empanelled - Thomas Goodyear, Patrick McGuird, Charles Gaze, Thomas Bridger, George Riley, George Gifford, James Willis, George Camwell, Bartholomew Mcllroy. John Brown, Chapman Ewen, John London, and William Robert Raithby (foreman). Priscilla Stephens Green being sworn, said, I am the wife of Charles Hooper Green, who is a settler living at the "Triangle" sale yard, in the village of Otahuhu. Yesterday afternoon, the twelfth day of June instant, at about a quarter past three o’clock in the afternoon, I was looking out of the window of my own house in Otahuhu, when I saw two men pass along the main road, walking hand in hand, I recognized one of them in Court this morning, by name Dennis COULAN, whom I knew to be a soldier by his dress. The other man was deceased [sic]; I do not know his name, he was dressed like a civilian. They appeared to be the worse for drink as they walked in a disorderly manner. They were not making any noise. I did not observe any other person on the street at the time. There were other persons in the same room with me, viz., Mr. W. RECKET, and Mrs. Recket.
About five minutes afterwards I looked down the road, when I saw one of the two men who had so lately passed, lying in the middle of the road. The distance from my house is about one hundred yards. I also observed at the same time the other man, viz , Dennis Coulan kick deceased on the head with his boot. I only saw him kick deceased once. He then lifted deceased by the hand into a sitting posture, and on his letting him go deceased fell back quite powerless. There were none other persons present at this time but deceased and Coulan. I saw Coulan walk away immediately towards Otahuhu; he walked very fast. As he passed my window he turned round and looked towards deceased as he lay on the road. Just then my husband came into the room, and I saw no more of Coulan. I don’t know where he went. There was no noise made either by deceased or Coulan. About an hour afterwards I saw the dead body of deceased carried past my house, on a stretcher. I do not know deceased’s name. I never remember having seen him before. I cannot identify deceased, not having seen his face. I did not see a stick, or any weapon, in the hands of either of the men.
William RECKET being sworn, said: I am a carter, residing in Otahuhn. Yesterday afternoon, June 12th instant, I was in the house of the last witness, between the hours of three and four o’clock in the afternoon. I remarked two men walk past, hand in hand; one of these men is at present in Court, and the other was deceased. They were going towards the Tamaki bridge. They seemed to be the worse for drink, but were not making any noise. I took no further notice of them after passing the window until I observed one of them, viz., Coulan, returning at a smart pace up the road towards the village. When in front of Mr, Green’s house I noticed him turn his head round and look back. I looked out at the same time, and saw a man lying in the middle of the road, at about one hundred yards distance. I thought the man was drunk, and did not go to him for about a quarter of an hour, when, hearing that he was dead, from Mr. Green, I went to the spot. There were several other persons there at the time, surrounding the body of the deceased, as it lay on the ground. I recognised the body as that of the man who had passed Mr, Green’s window in company with Coulan. I saw a small wound on the right side of the forehead, from which some blood was trickling. I noticed some blood also coming from his nose. Soon afterwards I saw one of the police, namely, constable Hendry, remove the body to the place where it now lies, namely, the Commercial Hotel. I have seen the corpse this morning.
Richard McDERMOTT, being sworn, said I am a private in the 4th Waikato Regiment. Yesterday, Sunday, June 12th instant, between the hours of three and four o’clock in the afternoon, I happened to be near the Militia Hospital, which is situated near the main road at Otahuhu, when I saw Coulan and the deceased walking past in the direction of the Tamaki Bridge. They were walking in the middle of the road, quietly and orderly. About half an hour afterwards I saw a person running up towards the Hospital from the direction of the Bridge. He asked me and another if we had seen a soldier pass the Hospital lately, "for," said he, "he has murdered a man on the road." On looking down a road that leads to the Roman Catholic Chapel I saw Coulan walking away very fast. I immediately gave chase with others. On seeing which Coulan ran and attempted to hide in a raupo swamp near the Chapel. On being taken prisoner he made use of violent language, and threatened to kill one of those who had apprehended him. He sais to the Hospital cook "I will kill you too but for the rest of the party." I smelt liquor on him, but he was in full possession of his senses. We brought him to the Hospital guard-room, from which he has been just brought before the inquest. I then went to see the body of deceased, whom I recognised as the person I had so lately seen walking with Coulan. I saw a slight wound on the right temple, and a little blood on the lip of deceased. I do not know his name. On Saturday night about eight o’clock Coulan came to my tent in a disorderly manner, wanting to remain all night, but I would not let him. He was in liquor. I had not seen him on the Sunday previous to the time mentioned in the beginning of my evidence. I did not observe a stick or other weapon in the hand of Coulan.
Robert SPECK said: I am a private in the Army Hospital Corps doing duty at the Militia Hospital, near the main road, Otahuhu. Yesterday afternoon, Sunday, June 12, between the hours of three and four o’clock, an alarm was given by a person of the name of Green, at the Hospital that a soldier who had committed a murder on the road was trying to make his escape. I immediately started off with the last witness and others in the direction indicated by Green, when I saw Coulan about 200 yards in front of me, in the road leading to the Roman Catholic chapel. He was running, and took cover in a swamp, from which I and the party with me extricated him after some trouble. He was very violent, and threatened to kill me. He did not say anything in reference to deceased. He had no weapon that I saw. He belongs to the 14th regiment. I had never seen him before. I saw dead body of deceased lying on the road, I do not know his name.
John HENDY, sworn, said I am a police constable stationed at Otahuhu. Yesterday afternoon, near four o’clock, I met the two last witnesses, with others of the Militia Hospital Guard, and having in custody the man now before the inquest, to wit, Dennis Coulan, a private belonging to the 14th Regiment. On making inquiry I was I was informed that Coulan was charged with having murdered a man on the road shortly before, and had endeavoured to make his escape, when he was pursued and captured by the party above named. Coulan was put into the camp guard-room the same night, from which he was brought before the present inquest. I examined the person of Coulan. I found no weapons, neither a knife nor a stick. I found two shillings in his pocket. I afterwards went to where the deceased lay. I was not able to identify him, and cannot find any clue to his name or business. He was lying on bis back about one hundred yards from Mr. Green’s house in the middle of the road. I saw a scrape on the right temple, and some blood on the nose and lips. He was dressed in a blue pilot cloth coat, grey cloth trousers, grey tweed waistcoat, white shirt, black silk neckerchief. He had a pair of short boots, laced, with grey worsted socks. There was no name on any part of his clothes, and no papers in his pockets, which contained sixpence in silver, threepence in coppers, a pocket knife, a tobacco pipe, and wax match box. Near the body I found a black soft felt hat. His clothes were not soiled much with mud nor torn. His face was pale, his eyes are grey, teeth are perfect. He looked like a tradesman. I noticed a wart or mole on the left cheek. I never remember having seen him before. I had the body removed to the Commercial Inn, where it now lies. I omitted to mention that I found a cotton pocket handkerchief, white ground with red spots and red border, on the border are printed the figures 6116.
William Montague Hall WELBY said: I am a surgeon attached to the 4th Weikato Regiment of Militia, and am in medical charge of the Militia Hospital at Otahuhu. About 5 o’clock on the afternoon of yesterday, Sunday, June 12, I was called to visit the dead body of deceased, who was carried on a stretcher into the village. He seemed to have been dead about half an hour. I remarked a contusion on the right temple, but did not see any blood. There was a scratch on the upper lip. This day, Monday, June 13th, at the desire of the jury I made a post mortem examination of the body, I did not find any other superficial injuries besides those I have named. I first opened the head; there was no fracture of the skull either at the top or base. There was much engorgement of the vesels of the membrane of the brain. On removing the brain from the skull, I discovered a clot of blood about the size of a halfcrown piece, resting on the lower part of the brain near the insertion of the spinal marrow. The thickness of the clot was about half an inch. It was recently formed and very dark. I did not find the blood vessel from which it had burst. It was of an irregular shape, and took the mould of the part of the brain where it lay. The lateral ventricles also contained clotted blood and there was likewise much bloody serum. The substance of the brain was natural. The viscera of the chest were tolerably healthy. The stomach contained about half-a-pint of liquid which smelt strongly of rum. The mucus membrane of the stomach was evidently inflamed, and the liver and kidneys showed evident signs that the person had been addicted to drinking. I did not see any stabs or fractures, nor contusions, except the slight one on the right temple. This might have been caused by a fall against a stone or by a blow from a blunt instrument. The blow could not have been a very violent one. The cause of death was compression of the brain from the extravasated blood and serum which must have occured immediately before death. It might have been caused by excessive drinking or probably from the effect of a blow on the head. The morbid appearances may have resulted from disease. The age of deceased was under thirty years of age. Dennis Coulan was sworn, but said he knew nothing whatever of the matter. The verdict of the jury was that deceased whose name is unknown, was wilfully murdered by Dennis Coulan on Sunday June 12th, 1864. NEW ZEALANDER, VOLUME XX, ISSUE 2140, 14 JUNE 1864

A human skeleton, with clothes on, was found, on Wednesday last, by Mr Vercoe Jnr., at Matakana in the mangrove swamp, near the mill. Two knives were found in the pockets of the dress. Some three years ago, two persons were drowned in Matakana river, whose bodies have never been recovered. Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1195, 10 December 1858, Page 3

A skeleton has been found at Adria [Aria] in the King Country, in close proximity to it a six chambered revolver, four chambers of which were loaded; also a pair of bushman's boots. The evidence points to the skeleton's being that of a European, who has probably been dead ten years. Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 247, 17 October 1908, Page 4

GREYTOWN. A skeleton has been found in the flax at Waihenga, the remains of a case of brandy, a cup, and a chisel being adjacent. The remains are supposed to be those of Noble, late of Wanganui, who has been missing some time, and they are identified by the spectacles and the remnants of clothes. Evening Post, Volume IX, Issue 28, 15 March 1873, Page 2

SINGULAR EXPERIENCE OF A WAIRARAPA JURY. INQUEST ON A SKELETON.A somewhat singular inquest was held before Dr. Spratt the Greytown Coroner on Thursday. It appears that on Monday last, Messrs. R. G. Welch and Zilwood when searching for cattle in the Tararua Ranges, came upon the skeleton of a man at the foot of an upturned tree, on a very inaccessible part of the mountains. The coroner was duly communicated with, and a jury was empannelled to view the remains and find how, when, and by what means the deceased man came by his death. The journey up into the ranges seems to have been if not a very perilous undertaking, at any rate a very toilsome one. At one part of the journey, we are told, came a climb not to be adequately described hands, knees, toes, and almost eyelashes being required for its successful accomplishment. During this climb the constable accompanying the party several times called for a halt, for which sign of weakness he got a good deal chaffed. The jury further diversified their lugubrious proceedings by a pig hunt en route, carrying off with them one sucking pig and the tail and shield of a boar. On arriving, by dint of great labor, at their destination, the jury made a thorough examination of the spot and bones. Putting the bones of the legs together, under the coroner's direction, they formed a very good estimate of the man's height, which they found to be fully 6 feet. The remains were then buried and the party returned to Woodside, where they were invited to dinner by a hospitable settler. The evidence at the inquest showed that the remains were those of a man named James O'Donnell, who strayed away from the house of a Mrs. Dalton, where he was lodging, in December, 1879. He was suffering from the effects of drink at the time, and left in his trousers, shirt, and boots, without any hat. He was supposed to have been at one time an inmate of the Canterbury Lunatic Asylum. A verdict was returned in accordance with the evidence, that death was caused by exhaustion and exposure, and that the skeleton was that of James O'DONNELL, who left Woodside in December last year. Evening Post, Volume XX, Issue 238, 11 October 1880, Page 3

FINDING A SKELETON. Wairoa, September 1. The skeleton of a man was found on a hill near Morere. It is supposed to be the remains of Robert CLIFFORD, who disappeared about 18 months ago. The clothing was much rotted. Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 203, 2 September 1902, Page 4

MYSTERY BONES TO BE GIVEN A FUNERAL - Taranaki Daily News 01 June 1993
The human bones found on an Opunake beach in January will receive a formal burial this week. The bones, discovered by a fisherman at the Mangahume Stream mouth, would be buried at a nearby Maori burial ground on Thursday at the request of local elders - though they did not think the bones belonged to anyone from their tribe. A Taranaki Base Hospital pathology report revealed the remains (which included a skull, ribs, hip joints, shoulders, vertebrae and a jaw bone with teeth) came from three different adult bodies but the identities, sex and cause of death remain unknown. It was estimated the time of death was about 50 to 100 years ago. The report suggested the jawbone and teeth belonged to someone of Maori descent while there was no mention of the other two people's racial background. Father Terry Crowley of Opunake's Catholic Church would conduct the funeral.
Laurence Dudley Chambers born 1897 and his son Lawrence David Chambers born 1938 were drowned near there on the 27 September 1959. Their bodies were never recovered.

DISCOVERY OF A SKELETON.[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, February 10, A skeleton has been found between the branches and trunk of a kauri tree near Kauwua, Hokianga. A tomahawk was found in the gum alongside. The skeleton is supposed to be the bones of a Portuguese gum digger who disappeared 20 years ago. It is supposed that he met with an accident in the tree in looking for gum, and died there miserably, the soft gum afterwards forming round the body. Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 11 February 1899, Page 2

An enquiry was held on Monday at the Toll-house, Kaiapoi, before Mr. Dudley, the coroner for the district, respecting the skeleton of a man which had been found by Mr Orchard, of Woodend, on the north beach. Mr Orchard, who is a carpenter and resides at Waikuku, said that on the 18th inst. he was walking on the beach when he found portions of a skeleton, viz., the skull, backbone, one leg and foot... he should suppose them to be those of a man of from 45 to 60 years of age and about 5 feet 8 inches in height...Timaru Herald, Volume I, Issue 52, 27 May 1865, Page 6

The Wairarapa Mercury states that on August 16, a man in Mr Guthrie's employ at Castle Point discovered the body of a drowned man lying among the rocks at Ngakukou ahout two and a half miles south of Castle Point. Mr Guthrie visited the spot and saw the body, which was apparently quite naked, as his legs were under a rock of more than half a ton weight, which had ro be moved before the body could be got out. He had on the legs a pair of under trouper, which were down over his boots. He had on his feet a pair of well-worn watertights and a pair of military socks. There was no mark on these to lead to identification, but his heavy nailed boots would indicate that he had not been a seaman. There was nothing in his pockets, and he appeared to have been about 50 years old, and about 5 feet 7 inches in height, a little bald on his fore head, and his beard and whiskers had been closely shaven. He had a severe bruise on his breast, and another on his thigh, which might have been inflicted by some heavy instrument, or caused by some heavy fall. He appeared to have been in the water about three weeks. Mr Guthrie had the body buried he has not been able to obtain any clue to its identification. Wanganui Herald, Volume I, Issue 78, 31 August 1867, Page 2

June 20 [1883] The dead body of a middle aged woman was found in the river Ashley near Rangiora yesterday evening. From the appearance of the body it had evidently been in the water three or four weeks, and has not yet been identified. The affair is a mysterious one, as no one was reported missing in the district. Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4625, 21 June 1883, Page 2

Napier. November 12 1895 - The dead body of a man has been found in a creek near Pukawhau Road, Hastings. The name is unknown, but the body is that of a swagger. Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVII, Issue 8276, 13 November 1895, Page 2

Timaru, July 4 [1896] The body of a man, name unknown, was found in an old hut in Pareora on Thursday. It was brought to town today by the police. The body is that of an elderly man, apparently a sailor from his clothing, and is almost a skeleton. It must have lain there some months. There is no clue at all as to its identity. Thames Star, Volume xxviii, Issue 8396, 6 July 1896, Page 2

Mr Stone Wigg, of Tane, near Eketahuna, has reported to the police the finding of some human remains on his property. Constable Grey is making enquiries. A Press Association telegram states that some years ago a man named William CLEMENTS, who had been drinking heavily in Eketahuna, left for Pahiatua via Mangaone (where the body was found) and had not again been heard of. It is thought the remains are his. Evening Post, Volume LVII, 19 April 1899, Page 6. Is this our Alfred CLEMENT??

Yesterday afternoon two lads named Sharp and Couchman, while walking on the bank of the Hutt River, a little above the Gear Company's manure works, saw the body of a man floating down stream. They notified Constables Cox and Pearce, who recovered the body and removed it to the Empire Hotel, where it awaits identification. The remains are those of a man about 40 years of age, 5ft 7in in height, and rather stoutly built. There was no coat on the body, and the nether limbs were clothed with two pairs of American dungarees, similar to those worn by engineers and firemen. The body appears to have been in the water for about ten days. It is believed to be that of a fireman or a sailor who was seen at Petone three or four weeks ago. He then appeared to be queer in the head. There was a small mark over the left eye, caused, it is believed, through bumping against the stones in the river bed. An inquest was being held this afternoon. Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 August 1900, Page 5

The inquest held at Waitotara on Tuesday upon the body of a woman found last Sunday upon the sea-beach at Waitotara failed to disclose the name of deceased or the actual cause of death. The body having been in the water probably for several weeks, no external evidence of drowning could be found. There were no marks of violence, no scars, no deformity, The body was well nourished, and the clothing is of unusually good quality. A striking circumstance was the fact of the body being without the outer garments skirt and bodice. The brooch, fastened at the neck to an inner bodice, has the name "Souitini F" lightly scratched upon the cameo. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7491, 22 June 1903, Page 3

Dunedin, June 28 [1906] At the inquest on the body found in the Molyneux river near Clyde, a verdict was returned by the jury of "Found drowned," there not being sufficient evidence of identification. The evidence went to show that the boots on the Body were similar to those sold to Anderson, a dredge hand drowned about four months ago, and the woman who had washed for Anderson thought the socks were those worn by him, while a piece of under-pants found were of the same texture, but she could not swear the darning on the socks was her work. At an inquest held at Cromwell four months ago on a body found in the river, the body was identified as that of Anderson, and the remains were buried as those of Anderson. A man named Steel went missing shortly after Anderson's death and no trace of him has been found, unless the body buried as Anderson's was his. Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13204, 30 June 1906, Page 5

WELLINGTON, September 17 [1906] An inquest has been held on the body found at Wadestown. Evidence of identification was incomplete. One witness identified the remains as those of a gardener, named John MALING while others believed they were those of a seaman named Fred BROWN, also known as Fred HEDGELONG. The jury returned a verdict that deceased, name unknown, committed suicide ...Bay Of Plenty Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 4952, 17 September 1906, Page 3

Auckland, this day. The inquest on the body of a man found drowned at Devonport did not disclose the identity of deceased. The body is evidently that of a labouring man. A handkerchief found on the body, bearing the name of C Kasper proved it to be the property of Captain Kaspar, of the scow Endeavour, but he was unable to identify the body or explain how the handkerchief came into the possession of deceased. An open verdict was returned. Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VII, Issue 1948, 25 May 1907, Page 2

The finding of an unidentified body on Cheltenham beach ...There is reason to believe that a guess may safely be made at the identity of the person whose remains have so long remained buried in the sand. In the finding of this body there is every probability that we have a distant echo of the terrible Kapanui-Claymore collision of December, 1905. The clothing corresponds with that said to have been worn by Luke LANGTON, who is supposed to have lost his life in that disaster. He is known to have ridden in from Maungaturoto, and just succeeded in catching the Kapanui at Warkworth, leaving his horse there. His build is given as nearly identical with the description tbat was formed of the remains at yesterday's inquest... Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 254, 24 October 1907, Page 5

Found DROWNED.-Sergeant Kinsella has shewn us a letter from the Rev. Daniel Desbois, of Otaki, asking the assistance of the police, under the following circumstances. A young man was drowned while attempting to cross the Otaki river at the mouth on Thursday, the 19th inst.; height, about 5 ft.4, age about 21, rather stout, aquiline nose, high color brown hair and whiskers; had on a tweed suit, black with white specks; lace-up boots, supposed to be a great smoker. He rode a chesnut pony, unshod, which had recently been cut for lampus—branded AK (letters joined,) Supposed to be going from Taranaki to Wellington to avoid the enquiries of the police. On his person were fragments of letters wherein are found the names Taylor, Harding, Snelson, and Captain Miader. He has been buried here and Mr. Desbois would be glad of any help in identifying the poor man, in order that he may communicate with his friends. Otaki September 23, 1867. We have every reason to believe the body to be that of Parker who it will be remembered spread false reports about being robbed by the Maoris at Opunaki. Wanganui Herald, Volume I, Issue 99, 25 September 1867, Page 2. The Independent has the following — "Information has reached town that Mr. John O'Hay PARKER has been drowned in crossing one of the rivers on the West Coast. Mr Parker came to this colony very recently in the ship Southern Cross, and since his arrival has been travelling through this island." Is not this the Mr Parker who created such a furore here a few weeks ago, by circulating a report, that he had been robbed by the Maoris on his way from Taranaki to Patea, and about whose death information had been received by Sergeant Kinsella, from the Revd. Mr. Dubois. Wanganui Herald, Volume I, Issue 107, 4 October 1867, Page 2



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