The deceased died in January 1896 but his body was not found until months later.
Arthur Makin, a well-known prospector, reported to the police on Monday morning 4 May, that he had discovered the remains of the missing prospector, George Webster, the previous evening. It appears that Makin was engaged searching for his horses. At a spot about 5 miles east of Menzies, and about a mile from the Federal mine, he came across the corpse of a white man, which, on examination, proved to be the remains of the unfortunate man, Webster. Accompanied by the police, Messrs C. H. Beaumont, F. A. Moss, and Dr Corlis, and jury consisting of Messrs Harris, Speight and Gregory, he journeyed out to view the body, with the object of identification.
The surroundings proved that the unfortunate victim to our waterless desert had lain down under the shade of a large tree, in utter despair and quietly met his dreadful fate. There were no signs of a struggle for life in his dying moments. Webster evidently had lost all reason prior to death, which may be gathered from the fact that he had divested himself of all his clothes, which were lying a few feet from the body.
Although it was exactly four months since Webster met his awful doom, his features were quite recognisable by those present. The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition, but almost intact. In the deceased's trousers were found a Bank of Australasian pound note, and pocket-book, in which were a number of papers and various other articles, which left no doubt as to their owner's identity.
All the things were in a perfect state of preservation.
An inquest was held before Mr K.Ballard, J.P., and a jury, which lasted about two hours; and eventually a verdict of 'Death from exhaustion or thirst,' was returned.
The deceased had only left the Coolgardie hospital, where he was suffering from a very severe attack of dysentery, when he started on his fatal journey much against the wish of his friends, who tried to persuade him to stay in town and recoup his lost strength. But Webster was a man who detested to be idle, so stuck to his resolution to start on his what has now proved to be endless journey. The camel which Webster had with him returned to Menzies four days after leaving, which aroused fears as to Webster's safety. Besides exhaustive searches by the police, private parties and a party organised by the company for whom the deceased was employed, had been scouring the country during the intervening four months. By an accident, it is only now the world learned the actual fate of poor Webster. Mr E. A. Moss, acting on behalf of the Central Exploration Company of W.A, for whom Webster was employed at the time of his death, made all arrangements for the placing of the remains in their last resting place regardless of expense. The interment took place at the Menzies cemetery on Wednesday morning.