INQUEST.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1081, 1 May 1882, Page 2

INQUEST.

. ♦ An inquest was held on Friday evening before P. Brennan, Esq., J.P., at halfpast 6 o'clock at the Hospital, on the body of Joseph Woolf, who was found dead at Antonio's under the circumstances detailed in the subjoined evidence. / Mr M'Laughlin was elocted foreman of the jury. Dr. Thorpe proved that he was a duly qualified medical practitioner residing in Reefton. At the request of the deputycoroner he made a post mortem examination of the body of Joseph Woolf. With

tho exception of a slight abrasion. on the right side there were no marks of external violence, and this was probably caused by a fall. The internal organs showed that deceased had died from asphyxia, and death was probably caused by drowning. Witness was not acquainted with deceased during his life. Henry Shepherd deposed, that he was a miner residing at Antonio's Flat. He knew the deceased Joseph Woolf, and the body in the morgue was that of Woolf. He last saw deceased alive on Sunday, the 23rd instant. Witness left Mrs Loubere's on that day between 11 and 12 ; o'clock at night in company with deceased, who carried a lighted candle and bottle in his hand. Deceased took an unusual way, and witness asked him why he went that way, as it was not his road. He (witness) further asked him if he knew where he was, and he replied "Of course I do, lam between the two races." The path he went was only used by those mining there when looking after their races. There was an old track there, but was seldom used by any one but those working in the races. Witness, knowing deceased to be shortsighted, offered to accompany him dofett, but to declined to forso'meameaP^^^teVrSe? The piece of candle was a vety short one, and was flSjpng up when, deceased left. On Tuesday morning, -deceased was missed, but smoke was seen coming from his hut on Monday, morning. Search was made for him in the neighborhood. Witness was sure that deceased never went home on Sunday, and that the party who said he saw smoke from his hut on Monday was mistaken. There was a heavy fog that morning. In reply to a juror, witness said deceased was sober, though he had had twd or three drinks. <* - Elias Thomas said that he resided at Antonio's Flat, and had known deceased. On Wednesday, the 25th instant, he searched for deceased in company with others. They went to Woolf s claim and sluiced a slip away looking for him but without result. Subsequently he found that his (witness') tail-race was blocked up, and on investigating the cause, found the corpse of deceased in the race. At . this time witness was on his way home after having aba^d%ed the search. The body was half covered with tailings, and was in a stooping position, head and arms underneath, the body, and not being visible for tailings that had accumulated. The body was not) then removed, but information was sent to the police. There was no blood or marks of violence on the body. By the foreman-rWitness' party had been running tailings down the race on Monday and Tuesday. The tail-race where deceased fell was between 7 and 8 feet in depth. The path came very near it, but was seldom used by others than witness 1 party, though Wox)lf sometimes went home by it.-PW" "• George Handy proved that he saw the deceased on Sunday evening at Loubere's hotel, and left it with him. Deceased was not quite sober, but was quite able to take care of himself. He asked for a bottle and candle which Mrs Loubere supplied to him on leaving. Witness was one who formed in the search for him, and subsequently assisted in removing the body from the race after having reported the matter to the police. Constable Eelso proved finding the body of deceased as described by previous witnesses, and bringing it to Reefton. On searching the body witness found 2s. in silver, an old clay pipe, a box of matches, and a little tobacco. The only marks on the body were a slight scratch on the right cheek, and an abrasion over the right ear. Deceased appeared to be a man of between 60 and 65 years of age. Witness knew nothing of his place of birth or relatives. Samuel Furness, living at Antonio's Flat, knew deceased for some years. Witness had heard him say he had a son somewhere, and a wife in the Nelson Asylum, but he was not acquainted with any further, particulars. Witness believed deceased recently had a halfbrother in Antonio's Flat named Dunncliife, but did not "know where he was now. . . The juryi after a short consultation, found that deceased had been smothered in a tail-race on Antonio's Flat into which he accidentally fell on the night of the 23rd instant. "