| Notes |
- Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Tuesday 15 June 1915, page 6
Found Drowned.
About a week ago Robert Henry Nunn, aged 33*, a labourer employed at the Remount Depot, Kedron, disappeared. The police were informed, and immediately instituted a search for the missing man. Their efforts were without result until yesterday afternoon, when his body was recovered from Deepwater Creek, Chermside, at a spot where the stream is almost level with the road. The police do not entertain the idea that it was a case of suicide, but are of opinion that the unfortunate man met his death accidentally. A post-mortem examination was held, and there will be an inquiry in due course by Mr. R.D. Nelson, J. P.
*He was 31 as confirmed by later inquiry.
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Thursday 24 June 1915, page 4
FOUND DROWNED. MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.
Mr. R.D. Nelson yesterday held an examination into the death of Robert Henry Nunn, whose body was recovered from Downfall Creek on June 14.
Senior Sergeant Jennings examined the witnesses
Joseph Tysol, a member of the Expeditionary Force, said that about 11 a.m. on June 14 he was walking over Downfall Creek Bridge, near Chermside, and saw a body floating in the water. He reported the matter to the police, and afterwards heard it was the body of Robert Henry Nunn.
Thomas John Doolan, a private in the Light Horse, encamped at Chermside, said he and deceased had been friends from boyhood. He was a casual hand at the Remount Camp.
Witness had several drinks with deceased at the camp on the morning of June 6.
Witness parted from him at about 11 a.m. and saw him again at about 4. 30 p.m., when he looked is if he had just risen from a drunken sleep.
Witness had some whisky concealed some distance from the camp and he and deceased had a drink. Two or three civilians came along and they also had drinks. They had two bottles of whisky, each containing about one and a half pints.
Another soldier came along, and they drunk together until about half a bottle of the whisky was left.
Witness remembered nothing more until he found himself at camp with the other soldier, Kerr. Witness missed deceased on June 7.
On Friday, June 11, witness was informed by the police that deceased had not returned to his home. He next saw the body on the bank at Downfall Creek. Witness thought deceased accidentally walked into the creek.
Frederick Herbert Kerr gave corroborative evidence.
Constable Donnelly deposed to having recovered the body of deceesed from the creek, and produced a certificate issued by Dr. Row, showing death to be due to asphyxia by drowning.
Amelia Caroline Nunn, wife of the deceased, said he left his home at Alderley to go to the Remount Depot on June 5. He was in good health.
On Thursday, June 10, he had not returned and witness then became anxious, and reported the matter to the police.
Deceased was not of intemperate habits, He was born in Brisbane and was 31 years of age. He left one child aged 10 months
The inquiry was closed.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20015292
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179893941
Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), Wednesday 23 June 1915, page 5
DYING FOR A DRINK. DROWNING FATALITY INQUIRY.
A magisterial inquiry was conducted by Mr. R. D. Nelson, J.P., this morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Henry Nunn, whose body was found in Downfall Creek, near Chermside, on June 14.
Private Joseph Tysol, of the Light Horse, gave evidence as to finding the body, and reporting the matter to the police.
Thomas John Doolan, another private in the Light Horse, stated that at about 9 a.m, on Sunday, June 10, he was with the deceased, who was a casual hand at the camp. They both had several drinks that morning at the camp.
Witness did not see him from 11. a.m. to about 4.30 p.m. In the morning deceased looked as if he had just risen from a drunken sleep.
"Have you got any booze?" he asked. Witness said he had two bottles of whisky planted near the creek. "I am dying for a drink," the deceased said, "We'll go down and get it."
They went to about a mile from the camp where they got two ordinary bottles of whisky, each containing about a pint and half of liquor.
They opened one of the bottles, and drank some of the liquor without water.
Several other persons joined them. Witness remembered nothing further until he found himself at the camp.
He did not remember again seeing the deceased, but knowing that he had previously met with an accident, he thought he must have gone home on sick leave.
Witness thought that the deceased had walked acci-dentally into the creek.
Frederick Herbert Kerr, another private, said he saw Doolan and the deceased sitting by the roadside. Both were clearly drunk.
Constable Donnelly and Bertha Amelia Nunn also gave evidence. The doctor's certificate showed that death was due to asphyxia by drowning. The inquiry was closed.
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1883 - 1915 (31 years)
