Kalgoorlie Miner Wednesday 31 August 1898, page 4
A Dead Man In A Mine Shaft
BELIEVED TO BE A KANOWNA RESIDENT.
A gruesome discovery was made at about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon by Mr. H Colin. That gentleman was walking over the ground about three-quarters of a mile to the southwest of the southern end of Cassidy street, Kalgoorlie where there are a number of now unworked mine shafts. He went on the dump of one of the shafts, which was about 80ft deep, and encountered a highly unpleasant odor – Looking down he saw a dark object at the bottom and concluded that it could be the body of a man.
Word was directly sent to the Police Station, and constables at once proceeded to the scene with a stretcher. It being agreed that a human body did lie in the bottom of the shaft. Mr. J. O’Donnell volunteered for the odious task of going below and attaching the body to a line so that it could be drawn to the surface. Mr. O’Donnell could by no means be envied his work. The remains, which were those of a well-dressed man, were then taken to the Government Morgue. From appearances, it seemed that death had taken place about three or four days previously. On the right hand was a lady’s five-stone diamond ring and on the left hand a gold signet ring. In one of the vest, pockets was a silver watch having a gold chain attached. There was also on the body a gold tie pin, with a star and crescent design. Half a crown was discovered in the pockets. Several papers were also found.
Some papers found on the body bore the name Edward Francis Coffey a letter from T. A. Owens, of Mount Margaret, who had been a policeman in Coolgardie until recently. Other papers disclosed that the deceased received a discharge on January 30, 1896, from the Victorian Permanent Artillery. The body was 6ft in height and was smartly dressed in a blue suit, with black leather shoes.
Mr. Coffey would appear to have reached the age of 31 years. Identification by features would not be an easy matter on account of the bad condition of the remains, a dark brown mustache being the particular best-identifying feature. Several persons who saw the body at the morgue believed it to be that of a Mr. Coffey, from Victoria, who they had met here and in Perth. A coroner’s inquest is to be opened this morning.
The twice adjourned inquest in relation to the death of Edward Francis Coffey, whose remains were found in an abandoned shaft on the Omega lease three weeks ago, was concluded yesterday afternoon.
John Morrisey deposed that he was a miner living at Kanowna. He had known the deceased for about a year, having first met him in Perth, where he boarded with him at the same house for some time. He met Coffey on the afternoon of August 27th at the Boulder races and came into Kalgoorlie with him afterward. He accompanied Coffey to the place in Hannan street where Police Constable Fahey was staying and the deceased made inquiries of the constable as to prospects of getting employment.
Afterward, they had a couple of drinks on the way to the railway station, it being Coffey’s intention to return to Kanowna. Finding that the train would not start for some time they came back and had further drinks. When nearing the Kalgoorlie Hotel he asked Coffey whether he had joined the police force. Coffey answered, “There’s no one knows what I’m up here for, I’ve got a revolver.” He told Coffey not to talk like that, it made him somewhat apprehensive. They parted shortly after and the witness did not see the deceased again. When he last saw Coffey the latter was on his way, to call again on Constable Fahey, in Hannan Street. That was at about 7 o’clock. The deceased, who was drinking Colonial Beer, was somewhat the worse for liquor, and staggered a little, but could walk.
The Inquest: In summing up, the Coroner found there was nothing to indicate how the deceased got into the shaft, three-quarters of a mile away from Hannan street where he was last seen. It was not on the way to the railway station.
Francis Edward COFFEY, aged 31yrs, is buried in the Roman Catholic Section Grave 477, in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
Although it appears Francis was in Victoria before coming to Western Australia, he was born on 24 Apr 1860 in St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands, and was married to Catherine AUCHETTO on the 4th Nov 1886. They had the following children one of whom was born in Jersey. Catherine never re-married and remained a widow until her death in Western Australia in 1952.
Francis Bernard born 1887 in Victoria
Mary born 1890 in Victoria
Leslie Cosmo born 1892 in the Channel Islands
William born 1893 died 1894 in Victoria
Thomas Bernard born 1896 in Victoria
Kathleen’Kitty’ born 1897 in Victoria
Veronica Mary born 1899
Note: I think that Francis, while under the influence of drink wandered off the road on the way to the railway station and fell down the shaft accidentally. I wonder what happened to his belongings. A revolver was found in his belonging at Kanowna. I think that the ladies ring he was wearing was perhaps his mother’s, as his wife was still living at the time of his death. What do you think?
Moya Sharp
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