Coroners Records –
Justice Department Archives – National Archives 1901/878
Date
of Death - Thursday 3rd October 1901
Inquest
held Friday 4th October 1901.
Body
Found in Heathcote River 1:30pm. Head
and Right Shoulder in the River (Body on East Bank)
“The
body was fully dressed but his hat was lying on the bank.
He was lying on his stomach with his head and …… shoulder and right
arm in the water.” Sgn: Thomas
Turner Gardener.
“He
is a widower with a family. He
lived in Salisbury Street but lately with me in 191 Manchester St.
He sold up his home and was going to Wellington under instructions.
He was 44 years old. He was
a steady man.” Sgn. William
Lavery. Commission Agent
“I
am the Secretary to the Board of Education.
I knew the deceased slightly. I
saw him about 10:15 am yesterday in Wilderness Road. I overtook him near the Lincoln Road……………
After he left me he turned round again & went back up the Wilderness
Road. He could get to where the
body was found by the road I saw him on.”
Sgn. Henry Christopher Lane.
“I
am District Engineer for Canterbury and Otago.
The deceased was Clerk in Charge of the Public Works Department in
Christchurch. He had been four
years in the office. He had lately
been notified of transfer to Wellington but had been granted one months leave of
absence. He was deficient in his
accounts to the extent of 290 pounds. I
saw the deceased at about 9:15 am yesterday in the Public Works Office.
He was asked to account for certain money and the asked me to allow him
to go outside for a moment. I
waited and found he did not return. He
had given me the slip. I did not
see him again alive….. I knew
nothing of any such thing as money being wrong.
The account would cover two or three months.
His salary was 11 shillings per (diem) for six days in the week.
He started at 10 shillings per week.
He had extra control of money and responsibility during the Royal
Visit.” Sgn: Edgeworth Richard
Ussher.
“I
have today made a Post Mortem examination of the body of the deceased.
I find that the death was due to drowning.
There are no marks of violence. There
was no smell of alcohol, and no indication of poison.
There was nothing to indicate that he suffered from fits.
The internal indications were that he was not a healthy man.” Richard
Walker Anderson, Medical Practitioner.
Verdict
‘That
the said Charles Scholfield on the 3rd
Day of October 1901 was found drowned in the Heathcote River at Cashmere, but
there is no evidence to show how he came to be so drowned.
Sgn
H. M. Bishop
Coroner
William Hopkins
Foreman
William G. Munford
James Sullivan
Richard Jones
John Arres
Robert Standeven.
