This document is a multi-page police report and post-mortem certification regarding the sudden death of Rosalie Cant. It was created by the Brighton Police Station in South Australia and addressed to the City Coroner in Adelaide. The record provides a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding her death by drowning, including witness statements from her husband, her hosts, a domestic servant, and the police officers who discovered her body. It also includes the medical findings from the autopsy. This document gives you valuable insight into early 20th-century coronial and police investigation procedures, highlighting how witness testimonies and physical evidence (such as the stones found in her pockets) were recorded.
[Handwritten: 115] [Handwritten: Received 9-50 a.m. 13/4/21] Police Station Brighton April 12th 1921
Sir
The sudden death of Rosalie Cant which occurred at Brighton on April 11th 1921. I have the honor respectfully to report for your information that I made enquiries re the circumstances surrounding the death of the above named Rosalie Cant and obtained the following particulars. John Birdsey Cant Of Geelong Victoria states, “I identify the body of the deceased she was my wife aged 51 years. She has been in ill-health during the last seven months suffering from a nervous breakdown and had been receiving medical attention in Victoria during most of that time. She left our home at Geelong in charge of a nurse for the benefit of her health on November 22nd 1920 for a trip to Western Australia. From there she proceeded to Brighton South Australia where she arrived on April 8th 1921 and was staying at Mr Frederick Arbons residence. I arrived at Brighton S.A. on April 9th 1921 and found her in a weak state of health. I last saw her alive on April 11th 1921. She has never shown any suicidal tendencies.”
Myra Annie Arbon wife of Frederick Arbon of Brighton states. “Deceased has been staying at my house at Brighton since April 8th 1921 she was suffering from a nervous break-down and was very weak. I last saw her alive at About 4-30 p.m. when she was in her room and appeared to be in her usual spirits. She did not say that she was going out.”
Blanche Wittenbury, of Brighton domestic servant states.” I am working at Mrs Arbons house at Brighton. I knew the deceased. The last time I saw her alive was at about 4-45 p.m. on April 11th 1921. She was dressed for walking and she passed through the kitchen and walked out of the house but did not say anything to me and I thought she was going for a walk.”
Sydney Edward Robinson, police constable stationed at Brighton states. “On April 11th 1921 in consequence of a report received M.C.Kain and I patrolled the beach to Marino Rocks about 2 miles from Brighton and at about 11 p.m. found the dead body of Rosalie Cant lying on its back amongst the rocks about thirty yards from the water. I examined the body and there were no marks of violence on it. There were two scratches on her forehead and one on her left ear apparently caused by the rocks. Her clothing was saturated with water, the tide had evidently been over her and had receded. She appeared to have been drowned. I searched her clothing and found two small stones each about half a pound weight in her pockets. After having obtained the City Coroners permission the body was conveyed to Mr Frederick Arbons residence at Brighton.”
I have the honor to be Sir your obedient servant C Kain M. Constable
To The City Coroner Adelaide
John Ikin Sangster of Brighton, Medical Practitioner states. “I certify that I have made a post-mortem examination on the body of Mrs Rosalie Cant. The organs generally were in a healthy state. The valves of the heart somewhat nodular, the heart not enlarged. On section of the lungs large quantities of frothy fluid exuded. The brain was normal, there was absence of any clot. The mucous membrane of the stomach was somewhat conjested, the contents a small quantity of grumous material devoid of any unusual odour. I am of the opinion that the cause of death was drowning. The post-mortem was made on April 12th 1921″
C Kain M. Constable 12/4/21
I certify that I have made a post mortem examination on the body of Mrs Rosalie Cant. The organs generally were in a healthy condition. the valves of the heart somewhat nodular, the heart not enlarged. On section of the lungs large quantities of frothy fluid exuded – The brain was normal, there was absence of any clot. The mucous membrane of the stomach was somewhat congested, the contents a small quantity of grumous material, devoid of any unusual odour. I am of the opinion that the deceased cause of death was drowning.
John I. Sangster M.R.C.S. Eng. L.R.C.P. Edin: Apl. 12th. 1921.
Principal Individuals:
- Rosalie Cant: Deceased. Age 51. Wife of Birdsey Cant. Residence: Geelong, Victoria. Died April 11, 1921, at Brighton, South Australia. Cause of death: Drowning. She had been suffering from a nervous breakdown for seven months and was traveling for her health.
- John Birdsey Cant: Husband of Rosalie Cant. Residence: Geelong, Victoria. Arrived in Brighton, SA on April 9, 1921.
Associated Individuals:
- Myra Annie Arbon: Wife of Frederick Arbon. Resident of Brighton, SA. Hosted Rosalie Cant at her home.
- Frederick Arbon: Husband of Annie Arbon. Resident of Brighton, SA.
- Blanche Wittenbury: Domestic servant at the Arbon residence in Brighton. Last person to see Rosalie alive at 4:45 p.m.
- Sydney Edward Robinson: Police Constable stationed at Brighton. Found the body.
- M.C. Kain: Mounted Constable. Co-patrolled the beach and signed the report.
- John Ikin Sangster: Medical Practitioner in Brighton (M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Edin.). Conducted the post-mortem examination.
Key Events:
- Death: Rosalie Cant died on April 11, 1921, at Brighton, South Australia.
- Post-Mortem: Conducted on April 12, 1921, by Dr. John Ikin Sangster.
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