SUDDEN DEATH.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1134, 18 October 1882, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH.

— ♦ An inquest was held yesterday, before G. C. Bowman Esq. J.P., at the Hospital on the body of Jacob Schmidt Wildt, who was found dead on Monday morning last, under the circumstances detailed in the subjoined evidence. Mr M'Beaih was elected foreman of the jury. The first witness called was. George Thomas Charles Bannister, assistant to Mr Gissing, who said that he ! was acquainted with the deceased, and was in the habit of calling him in the morning. He last saw him alive on Saturday night, the 14th inst., about half past 11 o'clock. He appeared well then but was hardly sober. '■*■ hen he went to call him on Monday morning, he found deceased lying dead, in front of the cottage he occupied in Smith street ; the body was lying on its face ; witness at once called Mr Gissing, and then fetched Dr Collins ; the ground was soft where deceased was lying. R. M. Gissing, chemist, residing in Reefton, said that deceased was in his employment, and came as usual on Sunday morning at 8 o'clock ; he left between 1 and 2 o'clock that day, and the last time witness saw him alive was about an hour after he left, standing in the doorway of his own cottage; about 8 o'clock witness was called by Mr Bannister, who said that he thought Schmidt was dead ; witness sent at once for Dr Collins, and they found deceased lying dead as previously described ; his hands were clenched and his face close to the ground ; witness then gave information to the police, who took charge of the body ; there was a bruise on tho right temple of deceased ; he had been in witness' employ between six and seven } 7 ears. was about 46 years of age, and was a native of Denmark ; ho had no relatives in NewZealand to witness' knowledge, and had been about twenty years in the colon}' ; he was of intemperate habit 3, but was quite sober when witness saw him last. Dr Collins, on being examined, corroborated the testimony of the p-evious witnesses as to finding the body of deceased lying in the manner stated ; the skin was livid and cold, and rigidity had set in ; he had made a pos£- wo >•/<?>» examination on the body of deceased ; there was a Binall contusion on the right temple, but no other external mark o : violence ; on opening the body, witness found that the right side of the heart and its large vessels were full of black fluid blood ; the left side was empty ; the lungs were healthy, but whilst the right one was distended with air, the left one was in a state of collapse ; the liver was much enlarged, as also the kidneys, and these were in a state of chronic Bright's disease ; the brain was much congested, and the cavities in it contained more than the usual quantity of fluid ; tho cause of death was suffbea tion or choking ; the h;i uds were clenched. Mounted constable Bamford proved that Mr Gissing came to the station on Monday morning, and reported that

Schmidt was dead, and witness was sent J to take charge of tho body, which he found j lying outside, as already described; he subsequently had the body removed to the Morgue ; deceased was fully dressed, ! with the exception of coat, waistcoat, aud hat ; at his feet were lying a pipe, purse, , and a two shilling piece, which were handed ovtr to Sergeant Neville ; the face of deceased was buried in the earth, aud there was a small match box under it which might have caused ihe blood on his face. Julia Allen, barmaid at the Exchange hotel was called, but only proved that she last saw deceased alive on Saturday. Sergeant Neville explained, that the police had made every enquiry to discover how the deceased spent his time from tlie hour when he was seen by Mr Gissing at his own door, and the time he was found, but had been unable to obtain any information whatever. The magistrate said, that thero could be no doubt Whatever, that deceased had met his death through suffocation, having fallen with his face in mud and water, and being unable to rise and extricate himself. A verdict to that effect was