Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Thursday 30 January 1896, page 6


ARTHUR WHITING'S CASE.

THE POLICE REPORT.

During an interview with the Colonial Secretary, a representative of this paper was furnished with the following addi-tional particulars with reference to the case of Arthur Whiting, who was buried by the police at Longreach recently. On the 9th. instant the police authorities at Longreach received information that a man who was insane was about four-

teen miles out of the town. A police-

man, accompanied by a black tracker, went out to the scene with a dray. When the policeman arrived there they found that the man was dead, and that the body was decomposing fast. Having no tools with him, the constable was obliged to send eight miles for a pick-axe. The body was in too bad a state of decomposition to be taken to the town, so on the arrival of the tools the con-stable had a grave dug about 4ft. 6in. deep, and interred the body as decently as the surrounding circumstances would permit. Large areas of the Western country are liable to he flooded, but the grave is in such a position that only back waters can possibly cover it. The body was interred on the same day as the police received intimation, and an inquest was held by the P.M., and the depositions forwarded on the 12th instant to the De-partment of Justice. The reason the report of the death was not wired to Brisbane is that a circular has been sent out to the police-officers not to wire par-ticulars of death unless there are sus-picious circumstances, which was not the case in this instance. As soon

the written report of the circumstances was received py the department in an-swer to a wire sent to Inspector Lamond for particulars it was at once sent to Mr. Whiting, the deceased's father. The bodies of people who die of sunstroke decompose very quickly, and in view of there being no suspicious circumstances the constable in burying the body on the spot followed the usual course adopted in like cases in the bush. The report received by the department states that the only effects found with the deceased were an old pack saddle and a swag, both of which were of no value whatever. The police were informed that deceasd had a horse, for which they are now dili gently searching.

The Brisbane employees of Messrs. Robert Harper and Co. met on Monday afternoon in the offices of the firm in Mary-street to congratulate Mr. Janies Findlay, the firm's town traveller, on the ocoasion of his marriage. In addi-tion to a cheque from the firm, Mr. Mackintosh, accountant, on behalf of the employees, (presented (that gentleman with a handsome marble timepiece, ap-propriately Inscribed, and expressed the 1 best wishes of all present for the future welfare of Mr. and Mrs. Findlay. Mr. I Findlay suitably responded on behalf of , his Wife and himself. -