John William Bevan Hill

John William Bevan Hill was found dead in Falmouth Shipyard on 13 November 1959.

He had multiple injuries consistent with a fall into the dock, but one injury on his head could have been sustained by a blow with a blunt instrument.

John Hill had lived in Billingham Lane, Ross Road in Hereford and was the bosun of the motor tanker Norscot.

He was seen drinking on the night of 12 November 1959 at about 10.15pm by two of the crewmembers of the Norscot who said that he had been drinking but was not drunk.

John Hill's body was found by a painter that had lived in East Road, Stithians in No. 4 Dry Dock immediately beneath the stationary dockside crane. It was heard that he had multiple injuries but that one of them could have been caused by a blow to the head with a blunt instrument if he had not have been wearing his cap. His cap was found underneath his body.

He was found to have had 0.38% alcohol content in his blood and it was heard that anyone with that much alcohol in their system would have been unsteady on their feet.

It was also noted that John Hill had been wearing gum-boots with rather smooth soles and that it had been a very wet night and that there was oil about.

After the evidence was heard an open verdict was returned.