The Life of WILLIAM CHARLES A WARD
CORONER HOLDS WARD'S REMAINS
Marin Official Besieged by Applicants for a Corpse. *
Jury Decides Headless Body Is That of the Rio's Master.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
SAN RAFAEL, July 14.— The Inquest over the headless body of a man that was washed ashore near Fort Baker last FriCay was held here this afternoon. It resulted In a verdict that the deceased was Captain William Ward of the steamship Rio de Janeiro and that he met his death by drowning in San Francisco Bay on iebruary 22, 1901.
Only a few witnesses were called and the inquest did not take much time. There was abundant evidence that the corpse was that of Ward. George J. Lampley of San Francisco testified that he was an intimate friend of Captain Ward and that he had seen him about six months before the wreck.
"Soon after the wreck," said Lampley. "John Ward of Raleigh, ls\ C. was in San Francisco. Before he left he gave me the number of the case and also the movement number of Lis brother's watch, stating that he had obtained it from Shreve & Co., where the timepiece was purchased."
tvta-r/k-s OF IDENTIFICATION.
The data was admitted as evidence and corresponded precisely with the numbers on the watch found on the dead body.
William Ward Blackburn of Denver. Colo., testified that he was a cousin of Ward. He could not identify the watch. He stated that the captain was a native of England, that his home was in Raleigh. N. C, and that he was 38 years old and unmarried. No other, testimony teing available and the jury being satisfied, the verdict was immediajtely rendered.
After the inquest there was considerable discussion as to the disposition of the bodv. Several fraternities desired the body,, and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was particularly anxious to get possession of it. The brothers of the deceased also wished to bury their relative. Coroner Kden was in a quandary and refused to deliver the body to any one unless proper authority was presented.
ALL WANT THE REMAINS.
Early in the morning Alexander Center, general apent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, wired to the Coroner lo turn the body over to a firm of San Francisco undertakers. The "representative of the undertakers was on hand to get the corpse. Miss S. W. Xicoll of the Pacific Mail Company was also here to ask for possession of the body. The Masons of San Francisco telegraphed that they wished to bury the captain. The Masters' snd Pilots' Association of San Francisco also telegraphed that they would have the funeral under their auspices, while George Liampley. claiming that he represented the brothers, demanded that the body be turned over to those whom tiie relatives should designate.
Coroner Eden refused all requests, saylne he would not allow the body to be removed from the Morgue until the maU ter was settled, but that precedence •would be shown the relatives. Up to a late hour to-night no disposition of the body had been decided upon.