THE BODY RECOVERED
A sensation was caused towards the end of October by the announcement that a well know Devonport resident, Mr. J. M. Carden, was missing. On Monday October 30, he had called at the Grand Hotel at 10 a.m. and had stated that he would return in half an hour to keep a business engagement. However, he failed to keep the appointment, and as it was subsequently ascertained that he had purchased a revolver, it was feared that a tragedy had occurred. The police and boy scouts instituted a series of searches, but in consequence of rumours that the missing man had been seen in Melbourne, searching was discontinued and a warrant was issued for his arrest at the insistence of his step-brother, a Sydney resident who was on a holiday to Devonport at the time. There were no further tidings of the missing man until yesterday, when his body was discovered lying in the scrub near Washerwoman’s Creek, on the Spreyton road about a mile from the town. The police were informed and the Coroner Mr. H. H. McFie, arranged to open the inquest on the spot as the person who made the gruesome discovery desired to return to Launceston by the afternoon train. The deceased was about 44 years of age and he leaves a wife and two young boys, for whom great sympathy will be felt. He formerly resided at Mildura, Victoria and had been a resident of Devonport for about two years and evinced great interest in rifle shooting. He was a native of Malta. At the inquest the first witness was Alfred Albert Burrows who deposed that he was a visitor from Launceston. He had been spending a holiday in Devonport for the last few days. He discovered the body that morning at about 11.30 o’clock. He did not see any marks of a struggle, nor did he interfere with the body. Trooper Kelly deposed that he had viewed the body which he identified as that of John M. Carden, who had been reported as missing about the end of October. Witness identified him by his clothing and general appearance. On searching the body he found a revolver in one of his coat pockets. It was fully loaded and judging from the appearance of the revolver it had not been discharged. A watch a chain was found in his waistcoat pocket, also two one pound notes and half sovereign and 10 shillings and seven and half pence. The money was contained in a leather purse. The body was fully dressed and there did not appear to be any struggle. He also identified a walking stick as belonging to Mr. Carden. The deceased generally wore a straw hat, which was still on his head. John William Wood, ironmonger, deposed that Mr. Carden had visited his establishment about the end of October, and had purchased a five chambered revolver and about 25 cartridges. He identified the revolver produced, which had been purchased on approval. Carden said he wanted the revolver to practice shooting. Witness had not seen him since. He appeared to be dressed the same as the body, that had been found and he was carrying a magazine book and newspaper similar to those produced. Witness identified the revolver as the one purchased by him. The deceased was alone when he made the purchase. Arthur Vernon Steer, solicitor, deposed that at 11.45 a.m. that day, the witness Burrows informed him that he had found the body of a man. Witness accompanied him to a spot near Washerwomen’s Creek, on the road to Spreyton, and saw the body, which he identified, as that of John M Carden. Witness immediately reported the matter to the police. The inquest will be resumed at the Courthouse at 10 a.m. today, an adjournment having been made in order that a post mortem examination might be made by Dr. Addison. During the taking of the evidence, the witness Burrows collapsed in a fainting fit, and was brought round by Dr. Addison. The body when found was reclining against a stump of a tree, with a newspaper at the back of the head. In the left hand was clasped a pipe, which was close to his mouth, while a match was still held in the left hand, as if the deceased had just lit the pipe before he expired. The scene of the tragedy was about one hundred yards from the road and five yards from a track along the railway line. It was along the route that a young couple were walking yesterday morning and they decided to rest for a while on the log. An unpleasant odor was noticed and upon looking over the log, they were horrified at the sight, which met their gaze, and they hastily fled form the spot.AN OPEN VERDICT
The inquest on the body of John Michin Carden, who was found dead in the bush near Washerwoman’s Creek on Tuesday, was concluded at the Devonport Courthouse yesterday morning, before the Coroner (Mr. H. H. McFie). Dr. Addison deposed that he had made a post mortem examination of the body, which he recognized as that of John M Carden. The body was in a bad state of decomposition and had been lying there for eight or ten weeks. The soft tissue had disappeared through the process of decomposition. The skull was easily detached and the brain matter was entirely gone. The bones of the skull and face showed no sign of injury. The skin on the throat was sufficiently preserved and showed no sigh of injury. The organ of the heart and liver had also been well preserved. He had taken out what he could of the stomach and part of the liver to be analyzed. The outlines of the organs were there but some of the stomach was gone. A flask of whisky and also a flask containing some dark fluid were found in the vicinity of where the body was discovered. From the decomposed state of the body, it would be impossible for him to give an opinion as to the exact cause of death. When he first saw the body, it was lying on the right side, with the left leg torn away from the body. In his right hand, the deceased held a pipe, which was ready filled for lighting. From the position of the body he would say that he had died without a struggle and had fallen into a sleep from which he had never awoke. Sleep would result from alcohol or some narcotic poisoning. A revolver and cartridges were found on the body. Death could be due to an overdose of chlordane. Superintendent Driscoll said enquiries had been made at the various hotels for the purpose of ascertaining if the deceased had purchased any liquor on the day that he had disappeared, but the hotel keeper could not recollect having sold any to him. Enquiries had also been made at the chemists as to whether any poison had been purchased by the deceased and a reply had been received from Mr. Johnston, stating that no poison was sold to him and that if a bottle of Chlordane had been purchased, it would have been entered in the book. The Coroner, after a short deliberation returned a verdict that John Minchin Carden was found dead near Washerwoman’s Creek on Tuesday, January 2nd and there was no evidence to show how he came by his death.