INQUESTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 310, 10 June 1875, Page 2

INQUESTS.

ROBERT WARD. An inquest was held at Mr MoKirrow’s house, Claremount, near Mount Horrible, on Monday, June 7tb, on the body of Robert Ward, who Was killed by the capsizing of a dray, when the following verdict was returned. “ That the deceased Robert Ward, met his death by (suffocation, caused by his dray having capsized on to him; that the accident was caused by the gate placed across the public road.” “ Rider —That the coroner be requested to take steps to have the gate which caused the accident removed' and to draw the attention of the authorities to the danger of such obstructions on public roads.” An inquest was also held at the Accommodation House, Burke’s Pass, on the body of Edmund Norman, who was found dead on the bank of a creek in the Pass, The verdict of the jury was—- “ That Edmund Normal' died on Wednesday, June 2nd, 1875, by the visitation of God in a natural way, and not by any violent means whatever.” JOSEPH ARMSTRONG. An inquest was held at Hood’s Accommodation House, Mount Somer’s Downs, on June Bth, before C, Percy Cox, Esq, J.P., acting coroner, and a jury of twelve, on the body of Joseph Armstrong, who was found dead on Sunday afternoon. It appeared from the evidence taken that he left Hood’s Accommodation House between ten and eleven o’clock on the night of Saturday, June sth ; that he had had two glasses of grog during the evening, but that he was sober when he left, and started down the track in the right direction for his own house. He seems to have followed the track for about half a mile, but to bave missed it where it takes a sharp bend round a corner of the swamp. His hat and a parcel of clothes he had with him were found a few yards from the track at this place, and his body four or five chains further, so that on losing the track he had probably wandered absmt until exhausted, when he had laid down and perished from the cold and exposure. The jury accordingly ■ returned a verdict of “Died from exposure to the weather on the night of Saturday, June stb, or morning of Sunday, June 6th.” CHARLES DOBBIN, An inquest was held at Southbridge on Monday, June 7th, before C. J, Bridge, Esq, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr Alex. Webster was chosen foreman, on the body of Charles Dobbin, a farmer, residing on the banks of the Rakaia, who was found by Mr H, Warrington lying on the side of the road, near Mr Moorhead’s, on Sunday evening last. The evidence of Catherine Dobbin, his wife, and Edward Dobbin, his son, was given, who stated that deceased was in good health and perfectly sensible when leaving home in the morning. Mr C. H. Warrington, being duly sworn, deposed that he had met the deceased at about 2.30 p.m. on Sunday riding towards Stony Gully, and that on his return from church he had found him lying dead on the side of the road, with one foot in the stirrup and the reins entangled about him. With the assistance of Mr Campbell, he had re moved the body to Southbridge, and left it in charge of the police. A post mortem examination was made by Dr Chapman, whose evidence went to prove that death had been ca.used by congestion of the brain, caused by contusions on the head, received in falling from his horse. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict accordingly. ROBERT EDIS PROTHEUOB. An inquest was held at the Saxon Hotel, Lyttelton, yesterday afternoon, on the body of a man named Robert Edis Protheroe, before Dr Coward, coroner, Mr Charles Murray

was chosen foreman of the jury. The body having been viewed, the following evidence was taken : Mary Ann Beverly sworn, said—l am licensee of the Saxon Hotel. The deceased has been stopping in my house six weeks; he was staying with me on the evening of the 7th. He asked me for Is that evening to go to the chemist. I gave it to him and he left the house. He was quite sober then ; I did not sec him afterwards. Since he has been in my house he has been addicted to drink ; for the last few days he has eaten very little. The bottles produced were found in his room, they belonged to him. Francis Sanderson sworn, said cook at this hotel. I knew deceased. I slept in the same room with him for the last three weeks. I remember the evening of the 7th. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon he was lying on his bed, he was then asleep. I did not see him again till ten minutes or a quarter-past nine. I was then in bed in my room and heard a groan. I did not then get up, but on hearing a second groan I got up and opened the window, and as I did, I heard a third groan. I called out, “ Who is there,” but got no answer. I stood on the chair for a few minutes looking out of the window, and then I heard a gurgling noise, I then put on my clothes and came down, and going outside into the passage between the hotel and Mr Ayers shop I saw deceased lying down under the window, with his face turned to the wall. I came in and said I thought it was Bob, the name by which we him, and I got some men to carry him in, and I then saw it was Bob; he appeared to me to be dead. Dr McDonald was then sent for. I have never seen deceased incapable from drink, but lately he has been very res 1 less, reading and smoking at intervals during the night. On Sunday night, he told me he had taken some opium, but he did not think it would make him sleep; he said he believed it was doing him harm, but he had to rest, and so he must take it. I once saw him take a red mixture, about a fortnight ago, but latterly he has taken a white mixture like water. Hugh McDonald, sworn, said I am a medical practitioner. I was called to see this man at twenty-five minutes past nine on Monday night; he was dead when 1 came. I know nothing of deceased’s habits latterly, but three weeks ago, he consulted me, saying he had been drinking heavily, and could not sleep. I then prescribed thirty grains of chloral and fifteen minims of solution of muriate of morphia. I ascertained afterwards it did not produce sleep, and advised deceased to leave off drinking and take nourishment. I have not seen him alive since. When I was called to the body, the pupils of the eyes were dilated; this was on Monday evening. I made a post mortem examination yesterday; there were no marks of violence, but a small bruise on the side of the head. I found on opening the chest the lungs were healthy, but the left was slightly congested at the base, a small quantity of serum in the pericardium, and what I took to be fibrous clot on the auricular ventricular opening of the left side. The stomach was quite empty, and the bowels generally ; but there was a great appearance of irritation in the coats of the stomach, which were highly congested all over, and this congestion seemed to be of some standing ; there was no smell. I think the cause of death was the fibrous clot in the heart. He had two scruples of chloral in my dispensary on the 7th at 6 p.m.; he drank it at the dispensary; it was forty grains. I did not prescribe it; he got it. Arthur White Parsons, sworn, said—l knew the deceased. Last week I made him up a draught; it was on Friday night. I gave him thirty grains of chloral hydrate at 7 p.m. that night, I have given him nothing since then. He was generally half drunk when he came to me. I have made him up draughts several times. This concluded the evidence, and the jury returned a verdict of “ Death from Natural Causes.”