An inquest was held by Mr. A. Covey, H. M. Acting Coroner, at ths Mortuary on Thursday, on the body of a man believed to be William Payne, a member of the crew of the str. Canadian Inventor, who was last seen on his ship on January 18 last. A verdict of found drowned was returned.
Inspector Mellows, of the River police, stated that on January 22 man was reported missing from the Canadian Inventor. His name this and resigned. Upon leaving was given as William Payne, who his Worship that the driver could hevreceived a cheque for Tls. 1,000, was last seen on board, on the 18th not open of that month. He-was described as having one leg shorter than the other, dressed at the time in engine room overalls. On Wednesday morning ai constable in the River Police saw the body at Holt's Wharf. Thinking it to be that of a Chinese, the body was handed over to the Chinese authorities, They, however, discovered a document on deceased which proved to be the discharge of a man called Payne from the str. Monteagle, dated November i, 1992.. Tha paper showed that he was signed on September 31, 1922, at Victoria, B. C. The year of birth was stated to be 1882. There were no marks of violence.
The Coroner said it was impossible to come to the decision as to how the deceased had met his death, so the verdict, as stated, would be found drowned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.