Transcript
of the Inquest into the death of John Morgon.
Held at Whangarei, on Friday 6th April 1888.
George Morgon :
“I am the son of the deceased, John Morgon, and resided at Whangarei. My father was about 48 or 49 years of age; he was born in England.
On Monday morning I last saw my father alive. He was in good spirits tho a little the worse from liquor. I have been at Whareroa since. I received information of the accident last night and came in at once and saw the body of my father at the courthouse.”
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Horace Frederick Sealy :
“I am a tailor living at Whangarei. I was employed by the deceased John Morgon.
On Wednesday about 3 or 4 o’clock, 4th April, I last saw the deceased alive; he was then lying on the bed in his own house.
I left him there but before going I told him I was going out to see his son and asked him if he had any message to send to him. He said “No”. I called at his house again in the evening between 7 and 8 o’clock to see how he was. He was out then and I called again about 10 o’clock. I could not find any trace of him and I came out and saw Constable Gordon. We went to the 2 hotels to make inquiries if he had been seen that evening but could get no information. I then went home.
In the morning I made inquiries if he had gone to Kamo or the Hokianga.
I then heard about 2pm on Thursday that there was a dead body in the water at the Wharf. I went down and saw the body in the water held up by a boy with his fishing line.
I recognised the body at once and, in company with young Courtney, got a boat and towed the body onto the beach at the low end of the Wharf. Constable Gordon was there and took charge of the body. I do not think the deceased had much liquor on Wednesday; he gave me the impression that he was low in spirits as if recovering from liquor.”
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John Samuel Dent :
“I am a settler residing at Whangarei.
On Wednesday morning about 8 o’clock I last saw the deceased alive. He was walking towards the Railway Station just opposite the Chemist’s shop. I did not speak to him. He was walking very slow but I did not notice anything peculiar about him. We passed each other about 2 yards apart. I have not seen him since.”
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Walter Pearson :
“I live at Whangarei. About half past 2 yesterday I was at the wharf fishing. John Ward was also fishing; his hook caught in a coat and broke. I then got a line and caught the body of a man. Another boy held the body up on the top of the water and I ran and told Mr Thomas. Freddy Davis went and told Constable Gordon. When I first saw the head above the water I thought it was Mr Morgon.”
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Constable D Gordon :
“I am Constable at Whangarei.
About 10 o’clock on Wednesday night last, Mr Sealy came across and asked me if I had seen the deceased. I said I had not. I made inquiries at the hotels and searched around but could learn nothing.
Next day I made inquiries without success, till about 2 pm a little boy informed me a dead body had been found at the Wharf. I went down and saw the witness Sealy and young Courtney taking the body out of the water. I examined the body and recognised it as that of John Morgon.
The body was rigid. I found a triangular cut on the top of the head just through the scalp about an inch and a half in length; blood flowed pretty freely from the wound for some time. There were no other marks, the body was fully dressed, but the boots unlaced, the hat was missing.
On searching the body I found a watch that had stopped at 3 minutes to 10. Several other articles were on the body. I had the body moved up to the Courthouse and placed where the jury have viewed it. I should think the body had not been in the water more than sixteen hours. The wound seems to have been inflicted by falling on a broken bottle; the letter found on the deceased was from his daughter.”
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Jury decision :
The said John Morgon on Thursday 5th April in the year aforesaid was found drowned in the Whangarei River at Whangarei, and the said John Morgon had no marks of violence appearing on his body, but how or by what means the said John Morgon became drowned, no evidence did appear to the said Jurors.
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