The Townsville Daily Bulletin, Thursday 10 October 1907
(New South Wales)

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRIES
DEATH OF SHARROCK VINCENT
At the Townsville Court House on Wednesday morning, Mr J. A. Boyce, P.M., held an inquiry into the cause of Sharrock Vincent, whose body was found in the swing basin on Saturday morning. Acting-Sergeant Martin conducted the inquiry.
Constable Pope said about 8.50 a.m. on Saturday he went to the swing basin opposite Messrs Burns, Philp and Co.’s wharf, where about ten feet from the bank he saw the dead body of a man floating in the water. He got into John Dumaresq’s punt, and with his assistance he brought the body to the bank. A woman named Matilda Hanna Vincent, who resided in Nelson-street, afterwards identified the body as that of her husband. He conveyed the body to the morgue, where Dr Humphry made a post mortem examination. There were no marks of violence on the body, and on making full inquiries there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances in connection with the case.
Charles Vincent, son of the deceased, said he spoke to his father outside the Australian Hotel about 10 p.m. on Friday. He said he was going to work on the Kuranda at the eastern jetty wharf. He left witness and went in that direction. He appeared to have had some drink, but walked all right.
Matilda Hanna Vincent, widow, said the deceased left home about 5.30 p.m. on Friday saying he was going to work at the Adelaide Steamship Company’s wharf at the eastern jetty. The boat was expected to arrive at 6 p.m., when the deceased left home he was sober and in good health. He was 49 years of age and a native of Cornwall.
John Dumaresq, mariner, Palmer-street, said he was employed by Messrs Burns, Philp and Co. on the Barratta lighter. About 7.45 a.m. on Saturday he was crossing the creek in a punt going to his work when he saw an object in the water in the north-west corner of the swing basin. On seeing that it was a dead body he went ashore and informed the police, afterwards assisting Constable Pope to take it ashore.
Dr Humphry, Government medical officer, who conducted the post mortem examination, certified that death was due to asphyxia from drowning. There were no marks of violence on the body. There was beer in his stomach. There were signs of an old disease of both lungs, which had healed. All the other organs were healthy.
The inquiry then closed.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho