Albert John Chapman

BODY FOUND IN HARBOUR A GARDENER'S FATE

The body of a man named Albert John Chapman, a gardener, 54 years of age, who resided in Douglas Street, Ponsonby, was found floating in the harbour off Ponsonby yesterday morning.

A passer-by saw the the body in the water, and communicated with the police. Later in the day the body was identified.

The deceased, who was a married man, was last seen alive on Wednesday night. It is stated that he had been in ill-health for some time past.

In inquest will be held at the morgue at 10.30 a.m. to-day.

Source: New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15438, 17 October 1913, Page 8

FOUND IN WATER THE PONSONBY CASE

The next inquest was in respect to Albert John Chapman, aged 55 years, who was found drowned at Ponsonby. Sergeant O'Grady represented the police.

William John Chapman identified the body as that of his father, Albert John Chapman, who was a gardener by occupation. Witness lived with his father, and last saw him alive about 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday night. His father had very bad health the last 12 months. When witness returned, about 10.30 p.m., his mother said, "Leave the door open; your father is out." His father was in the habit of going out for a walk. The next thing, he saw in the newspaper an account of a body having been found, and from the description given, he concluded it to be his father's. His father never said anything pointing to a possibility of his taking his life.

Mrs Chapman, wife of the deceased, said on Wednesday evening about 10 o'clock, her husband was sitting in the kitchen. She did not notice anything unusual about him. Witness went in the yard, and when she came back her husband was not in the house. She thought he would in presently, and went outside to look for him. Sometimes her husband went out of an evening for a walk, before he went to bed. She told the boys not to lock the door, and then retired for the night.

The Coroner found that death was due to drowning, and that there was no evidence to show how deceased came to be in the water.

Source: Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 248, 17 October 1913, Page 5