Pics from the Past | Part 2: Sisters’ drowning in Goulburn River: Inquest continues

William John Nolan, hotel keeper: At about 10am today, I saw the dead bodies of the two girls at the police station. I identify the body of the smaller girl as Annie Howard. She was employed by me as a servant. I last saw her alive at 10.45pm yesterday. She was then going into her bedroom, which she occupied by herself. I did not see her sister with her. I did not hear her leave the hotel this morning. She was in the habit of commencing work at about 6.45am. The clock in the deceased’s room showed that the alarm was set for 6am. She was of a cheerful disposition and was about three months in my employ. I examined the room at my hotel occupied by the deceased and saw that the bed therein was used last night. The deceased’s clothes were there; also, the dress-basket and two hats produced that did not belong to Annie. I knew the deceased sister Ellen; she had often been with her sister Annie at my hotel.

James Morris, draper: At about 6.10am today, in company with Mr Maltby and Mr Barnett, I went to that part of the Goulburn River known as the bathing place. We were going into the dressing shed, when Mr Maltby said, “Hello! Whose towel is this down in the river?” Mr Barnett and I went into the dressing shed. After I put my trunks on I joined Mr Maltby. He said, “This seems funny. A girl’s shoes and clothes and a towel. There must be a girl about.” I had a look along the water for about 10 yards and saw a girl’s forehead and hair floating on top of the water. I swam in and brought the body out. It was in about six feet of water. I recognised the body to be that of Ellen Howard. Mr Maltby and I tried first-aid remedies for a time. Mr Barnett immediately ran for a doctor. Mr Maltby shortly afterward left to inform the police, whilst I still tried to bring her around. When Mr Maltby returned I said to him, “Someone must have been with her.” Mr Maltby called out to a man named Daniel Nelson who was passing along the bank, “Have a look and see if there are any clothes in the ladies’ shed.” He looked and said, “Yes, there are two sets with one pair of shoes.” Mr Maltby and I then commenced to dive, and I found the body of Annie Howard in about eight feet of water, a short distance from where the other body was. Dr Grutzner arrived immediately after the recovery of the second body and endeavoured to restore animation. I remember Senior Constable Corry arriving at the bathing place. I drew his attention to the girl’s boots on the sand. Senior Constable Corry said, “There are also a pair of ladies’ boots and two ladies’ costumes in the ladies’ dressing enclosure. There must be another girl in the river.” I was then in the water. He said, “While you are in the water, you had better make a search,” and on the third dive, I found the body of Annie Howard. The depth of water was about eight feet and four yards from the bank. I brought the body out on the sand.

Edward John Maltby: I have heard the evidence given by James Morris. It is true in every particular. I have nothing to add, except that I picked up a pair of men’s swimming trunks (which were wet) at the water’s edge.

William Henry Gilbert, labourer: This morning I walked down to the bathing reserve merely for a walk. I could not tell the time, but it would be three or four minutes before Mr Maltby, Mr Morris, and another gentleman got there. I saw no other person there, and no person bathing. I was at least 30 yards away from the river. I heard no call for help or screaming of any sort. I do not know anything about the drowning at all. I saw the bodies of the deceased on the sand after they were brought out of the water. I do not know anything further about the matter.

Senior Constable William John Corry said: In consequence of what I was told at about 6.27am today, after ringing up the doctor, I proceeded to the bathing reserve. I saw in the ladies’ enclosure two ladies’ costumes and a pair of boots. I saw the body of the deceased Ellen Howard lying on the sand near the edge of the water, on her back. Mr Maltby and Mr Morris were there. Mr Morris said, “There is a pair of ladies’ boots here.” I said, “There is also a pair of ladies’ boots and two ladies’ costumes in the ladies’ bathing enclosure. There must be another girl in the water. While you are in the water, you had better make a search.” He did so and found the body of Annie Howard, and brought same onto the sand. The doctor then arrived, and his efforts and mine were continued for about an hour in an effort to restore animation in Nellie Howard, the girl who was first recovered from the river. The police have made an investigation in connection with the matter, and no suspicious circumstances or suggestions of such have been disclosed. It appears to be due to misadventure. Both the bodies were dressed in blue bathing costumes.

Dr Frederick William Grutzner: This morning, at about 6.30am, I was called on the telephone from the police station to see the body of a girl that had just been recovered from the Goulburn River. I attended with the least possible delay and saw the bodies of the two deceased girls lying on the sand at the bathing pool. The younger girl I was informed had just been removed from the river, but the other girl had been recovered some time previously, and that the rescuers had made efforts to restore animation. I immediately set about artificial respiration in the case of the elder girl, as in this case there seemed to be some slight hope. Suitable restoratives were administered hypodermically. With the assistance of Senior Constable Corry, various restorative efforts were continued for upwards of an hour, but without result. I then pronounced life extinct, and the bodies were removed to the dressing shelter. When I first saw the bodies, both were lying on the sand near the river, clad in dark blue swimming costumes. The faces were livid, and froth and water were coming from the mouth and nostrils. The temperature of the bodies was low, but that of the elder body was not quite cold when I first touched her. There were no marks of violence or of anything to suggest that death was not due to drowning.

Geoff Allemand is an amateur photographer and Lost Shepparton Facebook page admin. Please share your Pics from the Past at pastpics@mmg.com.au