Washed up near Luna Park

In 1923 a relative of mine, William Elbeshausen, owned the Red Lion Hotel in Windsor, a suburb of Melbourne. He lived there with his two unmarried sisters, Lydia and Maud. He was  a bachelor and was engaged to marry a Miss Burgess.

Each morning he went to the butcher about 8am  to buy a piece of steak for his breakfast. He then returned to the hotel where he had his breakfast. He was sometimes away for quite a while, however, on a cold bleak morning in May he didn't return from his morning walk.

Just before 4pm, a fully clothed body was found in the water near Luna Park in St Kilda - It was William. An inquest was held and it concluded that 'on the 22nd day of May 1923 at St Kilda, William Edward Elbeshausen was found drowned in the sea, having been in the water several hours. There is not sufficient evidence to determine how or by what means he got into the water.'

What happened to William? Did he fall into the water? Was he attacked? Did he intend to take his own life? I guess we will never know.