Dover Express 1 January 1915.
MARINE'S BODY FOUND. On Saturday morning the decomposed body of Private J. A. Morris, of the R.M.L.I., who belongs to Holyhead, was found in the Granville Dock. He had been missing from H.M.S. "Revenge" since November 25th. The inquest was held by the Borough Coroner (Mr. S. Payn) at the Esplanade Hotel on Monday afternoon. Mr. F. Gandy was the foreman of the jury.
William Ballard, 39, Chapel Place, a labourer, said: On Saturday morning, at 8.30, I found the body of the deceased floating in the Granville Dock, near the Wellington Bridge. I fetched the police. I then tied a rope round the body and pulled it out of the water, and then placed it on the ambulance. It was then taken to the Mortuary. The mail-boat had just gone out from where the body came up.
Police-constable Ernest Kingsmill said he was called to the body by the last witness, and assisted in getting it out. He searched the body, and found the deceased's insurance card, and on it appeared the name "Joseph Morris." The card was for the six months ending June. There was an address, "47, King's Road, Holyhead." There was also some money. He was dressed as an R.M.L.I. Witness knew that there was a warrant out for the deceased.
Chief Inspector Lockwood said: On November 26th, the descriptive return (produced) was sent by the Officer Commanding H.M.S. "Revenge," informing the police that two bluejackets and a marine were missing. The bluejackets were apprehended and sent back to the ship, but we could hear nothing of the deceased. The return gave the name as "Joseph Augustine Morris, private, R.M.L.I." There was no description given. From the address obtained from his insurance card, 47, King's Road, Holyhead, we wired them and a reply was received this morning:— "Unable to attend inquest on Morris. Letter following. - Morris, Blenheim Cottage."
Dr. Baird, Police Surgeon, said that the deceased was fully clothed, with an overcoat on. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, showing that it had been in the water for some considerable time. Half of the skull was gone, but that was post mortem. The body was too far gone to say how the deceased met with his death.
The Foreman said that some of the jury were of the opinion that the deceased was found drowned. The Coroner said that there was no evidence to show that. He did not say that he was not drowned, but there was no evidence. He would record that verdict, but it was all wrong. The jury then returned a verdict that the deceased was found dead in the Granville Dock.