CASTAWAYS.
On the morning of the 20th April a boat left the Taieri Mouth, having on board four men — named Peter Campbell, Archibald Campbell, Charles Cummin, and Gustave Lanbeck — for the purpose of collecting guano, on Green Island — the large barren rock lying off Saddle-Hill. This trade of guano-gathering they have pursued for some time past, making, their livelihood by selling the same to the farmers around. The crew had provisions for two days, intending to be at their homes on Wednesday night, and were provided with a tent. As they did not return at the time expected, fears for their safety were naturally awakened. On Thursday night signal-fires were seen on the island, and the relatives of the men attempted on Friday morning to pull to their assistance from Taieri Beach. The sea was, however, rolling in so heavily that their open boat could not face it. A messenger was then despatched on horseback to Boat Harbour, Brighton, in the hope of getting a boat and crew there, to pull off to the relief of the lone prisoners. In this, however, the messenger was unsuccessful, and on his return to the Taieri Mouth he rode up to Waihola, and thence got the train to town, reaching about 4 o'clock. The matter was reported to the police, and in the absence of Mr Weldon, the officer in charge, Sergeant Bevin at once had a telegram despatched to Port Chalmers to send a steamer to the relief of the unfortunate men. The tug Plucky was engaged to leave at midnight, so as to be on the spot at early dawn.
The rook on which the men are, has little herbage on it, and it must have been with difficulty enough scrub was gathered to raise a smoke sufficient to attract attention on the mainland. There can be no doubt that the derelict boat reported by Pilot Louden on Thursday as passing the Heads to the northward was the boat of the guano-seekers, as she was of considerable size, built originally for the Shag Point Coal Company and carrying about six tons. Peter Campbell is an old Otago man, having lived for many years at Taieri Ferry. He is an experienced boatman, and although now well up in years — 76 — is able to undergo a large amount of hardship. His vocation in the good old times was trading from Port Chalmers to Taieri, so that he has often passed the rock on which he is now an unwilling prisoner. The rain which fell during Friday will afford some relief, and the men being of hardy constitutions, want of food will not be so much felt by them.
The men were successfully taken off the island by the Plucky. -Otago Daily Times, 20/5/1881.
INQUEST.
An Inquest was held this morning, in the Octagon Hotel, on the body of Peter Campbell, who was found dead in Ross's right-of-way on Tuesday morning, before Mr Hocken, district coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr James Glendening was chosen foreman.
The Coroner said: This is the case of an old settler named Peter Campbell, well known probably to some of you, who was found dead in Ross's right-of-way. The circumstances in connection with the case were sufficiently suspicious to cause me to hold an inquest and have a post mortem examination upon the body. The result of the post-mortem examination will, I believe, show that death resulted from natural causes. I thought that it was right, however, that an inquest should he held and the matter put at rest.
Archibald Campbell: I am a laborer living at the Taieri Mouth. The deceased was my father; he also lived at the Taieri Mouth; he was sixty-eight years of age, a native of Edinburgh, a basketmaker by trade, and a Presbyterian by religions persuasion. He had been in New Zealand about thirty-two years, having arrived here in the ship Ajax. He left home about twelve o'clock on Sunday, and stayed that night at his son-in-law's house. I saw him away by the 930 a.m. train from Henley for Dunedin on the Monday morning. He was in good health, and had been so for years past, He was to have returned on the Tuesday night. He had two cheques with him, one for L14 and one for L5 1s, and about 10s 6d in cash. He had also two silver English lover watches, one of which was mine. He was taking it to mend. He had also a pocket-book belonging to my brother with him, and a meerschaum pipe. On leaving home it was his intention to stay with Mr Henning, of Rockyside. He was not in the habit of drinking.
John Mitchell Lomas: I am a clerk in Hogg and Button's store. Deceased came into our store between 12 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday to pay his account, which was L9. He paid it with a cheque for L5, and four L1 notes. He gave me another order, to be sent to his place on the following day. He came in again about four o'clock of the same afternoon to inquire about some bags. He appeared at that time to be the worse for liquor.
Robert Henry Bailey: I am a watchmaker in Rattray street. Deceasod came into my shop about five o'clock on Monday afternoon to inquire about his son's watch, which had been left with me on the Saturday. He was under the influence of drink. He paid for the repairing of the watch, but did not take it with him. He showed me an English silver hunting lever watch, which he said was a valuable one, with the name of G. and T. Young on it. I noticed that he had three or four notes and some silver in a leather purse.
John Jackson: I am a news agent, living in Great King street. Whilst nearing Ross's right-of-way, in the Octagon, on Monday evening, at about seven o'clock, with my papers, I observed the deceased on the ground, and thought he was intoxicated. I spoke to him, and he murmured something. I lifted him up, to get him out of the way. Two men were coming up the right-of-way at the time, and they lifted him up and placed him in the passage in a sitting position with his back against the wall. We all left then; but on my getting a few yards forward I noticed the men turn back towards the deceased. I stopped to see what they would do. They then came away and walked in the same direction as myself. They walked down Stuart street as far as Hall's dye-works. I think I could recognise the men if I saw them again.
The Coroner asked the witness to see if he could identify any of the men outside in the yard as those who lifted the deceased into the right-of-way. Witness went out, and on returning said he thought he recognised one of those outside as one of the men. He was dressed differently now, however, and he could not swear to him.
The man identified was then called in, and gave his name as Joseph Ruff.
John Winefield, aged nine years: I live with my parents in the Octagon. About half-past seven on Monday night I saw the deceased in a sitting position in Ross's right-of-way. He appeared to be asleep. There was another boy with me, also two men, who, whenever we went near the deceased, moved away. When we left the deceased they returned to him. I then went for a policeman, but before getting one returned to make sure that the man was still there, and found that he had gone. I asked a woman named "Irish Kate," who was coming up the right-of-way, where he had gone, and she replied that John Dicks, a colored man, living at the back, had taken him into his house. About twenty minutes past seven on the following morning my mother told me to fetch a policeman to take the deceased away, as he was in the right-of-way dead.
Thomas Macgregor gave evidence corroborative of that given by the last witness.
Joseph Ruff: I am a seafaring man, and live in Maclagan street. About o'clock last Monday night, whilst going down Ross's right-of-way with a friend of mine named Anderson, I saw the deceased lying drunk. We went down to the house of Dick, a man living down the right-of-way, and got him to come out with us and look at the man. He did so, and we took him down to Dick's house and laid him on the floor. I noticed that his watch was gone, and that his chain was hanging loose. We then searched him, and found only 1s 6d on him. I did not see any pocket-book or pipe on him. Dick blamed me for having brought him down, and said that he would have nothing to do with him, as he might be blamed for the loss of his watch. I said I would go and get a policeman, and Dick said "Don't; for he will think we have robbed him." Deceased was in the house about ten minutes, after which we took him and put him back again in the right-of-way. We returned to Dick's house and had some rum hot. The deceased was in the right-of-way when I passed through after having the rum. Dick came to my house on the following morning between nine and eleven, and told me that the man was dead.
The Coroner, to witness: You will not get the jury to believe that you have acted the part of the Good Samaritan in this case. Indeed, it appears to me as though your conduct had been extremely suspicious and cruel. You profess to have acted for the man's good.
Witness: I walked up as far as the Queen Theatre and back to look for a policeman, but could not find one.
The Coroner: Is it usual for people to take drunken men into their homes and turn them out ten minutes afterwards? The Jury, however, will be able to form their own opinion.
Witness, in answer to the jury, said: I saw the deceased for the first time in the right-of-way. I did not see him outside.
John Anderson, a carpenter living at McLeod's boarding-house, gave evidence corroborative of that given by the last witness.
John Dick (examined by Inspector Weldon): I live in Ross's right-of-way, with my wife and four children. My attention was first called to the deceased being in the right-of-way by two young men, who called at the house and told me of it. I went up with them, and we brought him down to the house and laid him on the ground. I then discovered that his watch was gone, and his chain being loose I put my band in his pocket to see what else he had, and found one shilling and two threepenny pieces. I was the only one who put a hand in the deceased's pocket whilst he was in my house. Deceased was blind drunk, and frothed at the mouth. He never spoke whilst in the house. I and the other two men had both rum and beer to drink.
Dr De Zouche had made a post mortem examination of the deceased, and found the organs very healthy. There was, however, congestion of the brain, and a large quantity of water. He found the left lung to be affected, so as to indicate that at a past time deceased had suffered from pleurisy. There was froth coming from his mouth, which was from the stomach. There was a large quantity of food in the stomach. The other organs were perfectly healthy. He had rarely seen them so good in a man of deceased's age. The appearances were such as led to the conclusion that death had resulted from exposure to cold. The drink itself would not account for the deaths The immediate cause of death was effusion of water on the brain. There was nothing whatever to indicate that death had resulted from foul play.
Robert Henry Bailey, recalled, said: I find that the watch in my possession was left at my shop on the Monday by the deceased.
Detective Henderson: From inquiries I learnt that the cheque for LI4 3s was cashed on Monday forenoon at the Union Bank. I find that deceased paid L9 to Hogg and Hutton, L4 to Sabbites, L1 6s for a violin he purchased from Myers, and L1 to Bailey making a total of L1s 6d paid by him, and leaving L1 14s unaccounted for.
John Dwyer, a police constable: I was informed by the lad Winefield that a body was lying in Ross's right of-way on Monday morning. On going to the place I found the deceased, who was cold and stiff. He had on him a tobacco pouch, knife, chain, handkerchief, a watch-case, two tram tickets, and a receipt.
Nathaniel Millar, a police constable: I was stationed on the beat in which the deceased was found on Monday night. About ten o'clock I looked down the right-of-way, and saw nothing to attract my attention. At half-past twelve I walked down it, accompanied by Constable Sullivan, but there was nothing there then. It was impossible for a man to have been in the right-of-way without my seeing him.
John Bevin, sergeant of police, said that on Tuesday the man Dick told him that the deceased was never in his house on Monday night. Dick's wife also said that the deceased was not in the house.
The Coroner (to the jury): Your verdict, I think, will be in accordance with the medical evidence, that the deceased died from exposure and cold. The witnesses called have not, it appears, contributed to the death of the man, though there can be little doubt that they have got the money that was on him amongst them. You will agree with me that this is a case which it was quite necessary to sift to the bottom.
The Foreman of the Jury: The Jury have some difficulty as to how to deal with the case, and if we are to believe the police evidence it would appear that the man was not exposed, and, if so, we would not be justified in finding that his death was accelerated by exposure.
Inspector Weldon said it would be his duty under any circumstances to ascertain if the constable had done his duty. He had one private witness, and if they would hear him they could afterwards hear Constable Sullivan and judge for themselves.
Adam Winefield: I saw a man lying in the right-of-way on Monday night at about a quarter past eleven. as I passed through to go home.
Cornelius Sullivan, police constable: I relieved Constable Millar at about twelve o'clock, and we together went down the right-of-way and examined it, There was no one else there at that time.
The jury found that the deceased died from natural causes accelerated by exposure. -Evening Post, 31/5/1880.
STEALING FROM A CORPSE.
A Dunedin woman, named Harriet Cook, was charged at the Police Court yesterday with stealing a watch from Peter Campbell, who was found dead under such peculiar circumstances a few days ago in the right-of-way near the Octagon. Portions of the watch, the police stated, had been offered for sale at a watchmaker's shop by the accused. A remand was granted. -Auckland Star, 30/8/1881.
SUPPOSED CLUE TO A MYSTERY.
Dunedin, Angust 29. A woman named Harriet York was charged at the Police Court to-day with stealing a watch from Peter Campbell, who was found dead under such peculiar circumstances a few days ago in a right-of-way near the Octagon. Portions of the watch, the police stated, had been offered for sale at a watchmaker's shop by the accused. A remand was granted. -Grey River Argus, 1/9/1881.
The inquest held on the 24th upon the body of Mr Peter Campbell, who was recently found dead iv a right-of-way near the Octagon, resulted in a verdict of "death from natural causes," in accordance with the medical evidence. However, the circumstances under which the unfortunate man was found, deprived of his watch, pocket-book, and other valuables, besides the questionable admissions of several witnesses, fully bear out the coroner's remark that he had "fallen among thieves," some portion of the money of which he was possessed is also unaccounted for, and it has not been satisfactorily demonstrated as to when and for how long he was removed from the right-of-way. That he was removed is admitted by witnesses, and also that he was replaced there by them to perish of cold in a cowardly attempt to shield themselves from suspicion. The police, however, have the matter in hand, and there is no doubt that it will be thoroughly investigated. -Otago Witness, 3/9/1881.
The Watch Robbery. Harriet York, formerly charged with stealing a watch from the man Campbell, found dead in the Octagon, a few days ago, has been discharged, as it was a case of mistaken identity. John Dannar and Annie Lockwood are now accused and hare been remanded. -Globe, 3/9/1881.
At the Police Court this morning John Danner and Annie Lockwood, remanded from yesterday on the charge of stealing a silver watch from the person of Peter Gardiner Campbell, were discharged, the Bench remarking at the time that there was a missing link in the evidence. They cautioned the accused, and told them that it was their duty on finding anything to at once bring it to the police and not to attempt to sell it, as in this case. Messrs J. Logan and J. Griffen were the presiding Justices. -Evening Star, 3/9/1881.
Peter Campbell lies in the Taieri Beach cemetery.
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