Another Sacrifice.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 435, 29 March 1890, Page 2

Another Sacrifice.

Ax inquest into the death of Robert Bryson was held at the Hospital ye-terday, before Mr H. E. Kenny, Acting Coroner, and the following jury:—Messrs W. Morgan (foreman), Dalrymple, G. R. Moore, J. W. Smith, Scatter, Rosie, and Garrett. Maurice Hogan gave evidence to the effect that deceased had stopped at the Roseland Hotel for about three hours, but had only had a few drinks an 1 was quite sober when he left iu company with Mr E. O'Dwyer, at between 3 and 4 o’clock. Mr O'Dwyer deposed that he had hud two drinks at the Rose’and aud two at Steagall's in company with the deceased. They walked their horses from the Roseland to Steagall's, calling at no intermediate place. Was sober himself when he left Steggall’s for home and deceased seemed all right. Mrs Steggall deposed that Bryson and O’Dwyer were the worse of drink when they reached the Bridge Hotel. They had two or three drirfks there, bat deceased had no strong drink. Mr Steggall took him to a room and let him lay on a sofa, and in an hour or so (after seven) begot up again, seeming then to be all right. Dr Pollen gave evidence as to the injuries sustained through the man falling from the horse. R. M. Steggall, licensee of the Bridge Hotel, deposed that when he returned to tbe bar about 5 or 5.30 deceased was lying on a form. O'Dwyer was quite sober and left shortly before Bryson, who left about 5 30, before dark, and sitting as straight aa a trooper. Deceased was not drunk. Witness first said he made a mistake in telling the constable it was 7 when Bryson left, and than said deceased had lain on the sofa about two hours and left shortly before seven. George Bovin deposed that he was at the hotel, quite sober, at 10 past 6, and saw Bryson and O'Dwyer, both drunk, the former so drunk that be could not ask for a drink. It took witness, McDonald, and Steggall to get Bryson on his horse. Bryson seemed to ba really stupefied. C. Arnaboldie gave evidence as to assisting when in the morning Bryson was found lying helpless on the road, and also as to Steggall's indifference when informed . the occurrence. 0. Hills gave evidence as discovering the unfortunate man, and as Steggall’s seluotance in providing assistanoe. In reply to the Coroner, Sergeant Bullen said that McDonald's statement would corroborate Bovin’s. The Coroner commented on the contradictory evidence, but suggested that it would be sufficient for the jury to give a verdict of accidental death, and it would ba for the police to move further io the matter in the Licensing Court. The jury then returned a verdict of accidental death, and referred the attention of the police to tha unsatisfactory nature of the evidence.