INQUEST AT TERRACE END.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 107, 12 January 1881, Page 2

INQUEST AT TERRACE END.

Piers X Warbupton, Eag>, District Coro* ncr, held an inquest on Monday, on the bodj of Edward R^ardon, who. died on Saturday, from injuries received on the previous day, while bushfalling m FitzherberJ. The following Jury were sworn : — James Linton, James Patmoie, George Woodroofe, Charles Gatton, George Theake, .Fritz Jemsen, Robert Gibbson Logan, William Dearde, George Lockie, John Mowlem, Andrew Eng> Walter Marsh, and George Boyd. Before the jury was sworn, Mr. Linton asked the Coroner if ifc were competent for him to seek some informs^ tion from him. Tlie Cobokbb* Yes, certainly; i? »fc should hare any beaming u|Kwi the inquiry before the jury.. , . Mr. Lxitfax : : I hold mmy hand thff certificate of death given by a medical man, and I wish to ask— ls it usual for the Coroner, knowing thafc such a document has been granted,, to issue a warrant for- an inquest ? The- Cobonbb : It is perfectly competent for me to do so, but m this particular instance there are circumstances m connection with the. case, which render it advisable, if not absolutely necessary (hot X shouH. hold ai> inquiry. „ Reports of a certain nature have been., m circulation* and. although I will not assert thai they wilt b» born* ouft, I think when the jury have heard the evidence they witt admit that the proper. course has been taken. The Jary wer» taen. sworn, James Linton. being chosen foreman, and after the body 1 had been viewed, tb* foUow,ing #tidence wjm tak«n^— . Prttriok O'SulKvan Hag^erty deposed : I am a settler residing at Stoney Creek, and? have knows the deceased, whose- full name was Edward Reardoio, for. thirteen yean.. On last Friday evening, ajbonjfe fqjxr o'clock, I was falling a tree about nim teen inches through, and deceased 1 was m the under* ■crab, about half % chain .away. When I had the tree sufficiently cut tl-»k I thought it would fall, I callsa out to him to come; away, as I did not knp,w whw h wayitwae. likely to drop. He did so, and -stood be* hind me, about eight or ten fee* on tb* Survey Line. The tree did not go as quickly as he imagined it would, and also thinking that it would faU acrpsa the. road, and it would afterwards have- to be shiftea, ran t > get hold of a vine to. guide ft m its proper course. I told him it was bound to fall m the right direction, nevertheless he went to catch bold of the vine, takinf tie itaftd **

rid*.tb« falling .it—. with ..hi*, back to. th« ■tump of "* tawa.". Hating a hold of tbe fine he overbalanced hinwlf acroM the ■tump, and- the trunk of the lately hewn tree slipping off itt stump fell upon his left leg. I ran up to him and asked him if hewere hurt,* and be replied that hi* l«g was broken. By using all my main strength I managed to d*»w bis leg clear, and he than fell down. I dragged him four or five yards, ran to a creek, fetched him some water, and then covered him up from the mosquitoes, while I went about twenty«six chains distant to where some men were working, and called them to my assistance. I was not more than' about twenty minntes away. - Deceased was sensible, and his leg was bleeding a little, but not much. I could see that his shin bone, was bent and then knew that his leg was broken. 1 left a man with him, while myself and two others went back to the camp to get bags to make a litter. I next got a hone aud came to town for Dr. Maclachlan, who returned with me with all ■peed Co the camp, but when we got there we could not find deceased; We walked about thirty chains through the bush when we saw two men cutting-* track so as to bring deceased to the camp, while the other had remained with deceased watching. Four of us earned him to the camp as best we could, and when the doctor examined it, he considered it a bad case, and put splints on and bandaged it up. Half of one of tbe toes was hanging off, "and I| not thinking deceased could bear me, suggested to the doctor that he should take it off then. 2-eardon heard me, and' replied to the effect fW %t it was not worth while to do so until vue whole leg should come off. I left m company with the doctor at eleven o'clock at night, and m order to get a stretcher to convey deceased to town. We started at eight o'clock next morning, having with us the stretcher from the railway station, and reached the camp at about half-past nine. When he had been brought into town he was placed m the hospital, and I saw the Mayor with the view of having him re- • moved to tbe Wanganui Hospital, and got an order for his admission, but when Drs. Maclachlan and Marriner had a consultatioa together, they considered it would be unwise to remove him and decided to amputate the leg. They done so, and two hours and fifty minutes afterwards the man died. I was present while the amputation was Serformed, and stayed with him until he ied, except for about five minutes, when I went for some' hot water.* He seemed weak and had not his senses. He was under the influence of chloroform during the operation. Both the doctors stayed with deceased for a considerable time after the operation bad been completed — I think Dr. Marriner for' about three-auarters of an hour, and Dr. Maclachlan - for tome time longer. Dr. Maclacblan said he bad to go to the hotel for a short time, but left orders that if there was a change, he should be sent for, and he' would return immediately. Before be left be appointed two men to stop all night. At that time deceased seemed to be drawing his breath easily. He also ordered some weak doses of brandy, which Mr. Lintori had sent, to be administered at intervals. About twenty minutes, to nine or thereabout I thought I would go home, and went to catch my horse for that pur pose. Fortunately L could not do so, as before I could leave ainan told me deceased •was dead. . . TotheFOBlKAiT! Deceased died at about ten minutes to nine on Saturday night. . It v nothing unusual to take hold of a vine to swing a tree when it is falling. I was not more than eight or nine minutes away when deceased-died, and do not think t could have been of any accistance had I been there. I. believe Dr. Maclachlan left about twenty minute* before Beardon's death. He was never sensible from the time of the amputation to his death. . Joseph Thompson examined ; lam a laborer, living at Palmerston North. Mr. Haggerty asked me at seven o'clock on Friday evening to sit up all night with deceased, and I consented to do so. Dr. Maclachlan was present at the time, and. showed me what' to do. He instructed me to tighten the strap above where the leg had been cut off, keep the screw tight, and look occasionally to see if there was any blood. If there was any blood; I was to tighten the- screw. I was to give him some weak brandy and water and beef tea; After giving me those instructions the doctor remained for about half an hour. Both he and Mr. Haggerty then left to go to tea. After I had been there alone for about quarter of an hour tbe other watcher came m, and I called his attention to the fact that deceased's breath* ing was gradually becoming shorter. Immediately afterwards Bfeardon said, "Thompson, give me some water; I am choking." I mixed some brandy with water, and gave it to him, when he said, "that is not water." I then told the man to go for th« doctor, but as he did not, seem to understand, I told him to stay and watch, and I would go my* ■elf. T went to the hotel but as the doctor was not there, I wentto Mr.Staite's, where I found him. He came immediately, but the moment he saw deoeasMl he said he was too far gone, as deceased was just dying. Tbe doctor «»id the screw had been loose while he was away, but no bleeding had taken place. - To a Juror : Half an hoar before deceased died, the doctor visited him m company with Mr. Slaite. I left to look for the doctor about twenty minutes to nine, and was away about ten minutes. He saw him about twenty minutes past eight, and said tie was better. Deceased was not without medical attendance for more than half an hour at a time. ■ . . , Hugh Kennedy Maclachlan deposed i. I am » duly qualified medical- pmotitfoner, residing at Paltrierston Worth. On Friday evening at six o'clock I was first called to •* e fc |*!" d «*!^? d b J :&*. tf«gferty, and rode out to the camp at Fiuherbert without delay. When w* arrived we had to go further on, and after some time found him -lying on a stretcher. As he had his gaiters and as they would be somewhat of a protection, I left them on, and when we arrived at the camp examined the injuries. I found the left le§ smashed above tbe ankle; alto half-way up >» the knee. The whole of the musoles were also very much bruised, and there were two op three wounds at the ankle, oammumcatmg yribh the fracture. I decided ti have him removed to town, as even then I thought it would be necessary to amputate the limb: The night was vary dark; and although the camp wat on the track, it wae five miles from town, beside the road was oventrewn with fallen trees, consequently it was impossible to have removed deceased that night. Next morning he was brought into town and ; placed Jn the hospital, when I held a consultation with Dr. Marriner, and we agreed lhat the only hope of saving deceased s life was to. amputate above, the i 7t fgb< * up than * had •* flwfc *n»graed ! would have been necessary/ He lost a good deal of blood, bnt not more than was usual m amputating so high up ns the thigh. I saw the bleeding .stopps- before the flaps were put together, and Mt the torniquet on unaerewed. but ready to screw m. caie oi aeridenfc. The operation had been performed under chloroform, bufc Hi effects were pn«sm«r off. The patent showed awv great amount of collapse, and w&snofe seti•lhle, fan l»p,» were bloodless, the face pale, ,and the fcot. « y M, I administered -weak E nd * mM M! bottl*, Md wrapped

after the operation until abont half-past six or seven, then leaving Mir. Thompson m charge, with instructions to screw up the torniquet if any bleeding commenced, and ■end for me directly, as I should not leave the neighborhood. * It was arranged sufficiently tight so tbat it could not slip or shift, but uot to interfere with the proper ' circulation. I was about half -an- hour away, and at about half -past seven I saw him again. He bad rallied considerably, knew those around him, asked for water several times, and brandy once. Brandy and water was being constantly administered m urn til quantities. I did not intend to leave him until bed time, but I vrent across to Mr. Staite's for a cup of tea, and shortly after ' wards a messenger cmc to tell mt' he wa=. | dead. I went immediately to the iio«;>tt:-.>. : and found such to be the case. I i»\>nni>i-v| i the stump, but found uo sip^n of hi - Ij,-^ I was surprise?, to s?e him die s.j suri.-Jesk i — not at the result— but tbat- lie si-.onl-.i :iif ■ so quickly after rallying. The tuniuiiLt ; had not been screwed, but us tliers h-±>i biv.ii i no bleeding ifc was not' veqniivd. 1 n-kol Mr. Thompson if it had b^en .iufew^i .in-i he said he had looked at the s;ui.;o, wlion deceased showed bad symptom?, but (i.e.. ' had been no bleeding. It m>.s u\uU m-t-i -.jou | that the torniquet was not bo tj'.u'hi'.i us ■; long as I was about, and tbe ir.si; jv-uon i ! about screwing referred to dumiJ < <m v;:;-' If one of the ligatures gave wny, a n^h <•- blood might come at anytime, an/1 ir e ,-.i ■■■ \ necessary to have the torniquet r-vjuly. I had intended to have administer-eii ay opiate, and see him again. | T6 the Coroner: It was nnrfonfly imp->«-sible' to take deceased throug') tbe binb on the night of the accident, as it took fire hoars to convey him from tbe scene of tbe accident to the camp where the examination took place. I had thought of son'ling for my instruments but it would have been impossible to have done anything, the mosquitoes were so bad. During the operation Dr. Mamner was attending to the chloroform, and when I had bound up the stump and examined the patient I found him m a state of extreme drowsiness, with ' symptoms of collapse from loss of blood. To a Juror : Mortification had commenced to set m, as there was a slight discoloration on the stump. The cause of death was probably loss of blood, weakness resulting from previous injury, and incipient mortification. I do notjthink chloroform had anything to do with it, on the contrary, it is my opinion that death would have been muck quicker, were it not for its administration. The object of chloroform is not only to deaden pain, but to prevent a shock to the system resulting from the operation, resulting ia death. The deceased rallied and become sensible, and that is never the case when death results from chloroform. I do not think there is the slightest blame to be attached to the watchers. Hugh Marriner deposed : lam a legallyqualified medical practitioner, residing at Palmerston North. Between four and five o'clock on Saturday evening I first saw deceased, I was. called m to a consultation with Dr. Maclachlan. Deceased was m Mie hospital, suffering from injuries to his leg and foot, there being a compound fracture to the leg, the bones of the ancle joint I much smashed ; while there were severe bruises of the leg, from the knee all the way down to the toe. I agreed with Dr. Mnolachlan that tht only chance of saving deceased's life was amputation above the knee, and we also decided to administer chloroform during the operation. This was done. He did not rally satisfactorily, and appeared to have suffered severely from a previous hemororbage, but did not lose more blood during the operation than was usual when an amputation so high up as the thfeh is performed. He evidently suffered fro.-n the shock of the accident, and loss of hlooii on the road. I remained for more than mi hour after tbe operation, and then left. D> Maclachlan being m charge. When I let I did not think his case hopeless, but 'i ' not think him m a favorable siato. I >lv! not. expect him to die as soon m >>.? cii 1. neither was I surprised. I son.<i;!«r !h*> use of chloroform was tnost advisub'e, ani death would have resulted tbe sanis, *r,<\ probably sooner had it not been g >e:i When I left the patient was m r.i ■> > i skilled attendance, which of coursu h* '-^iA. ] Dr. Maclachlan remaining behind. ' This concluded the wholeof the *vi .}<■ -n ■■■.<> j and at the suggestion of ouc of the \\rn , ; the Coroner inquired of the mcdi V. *H- ' witnesses if they knew of any pere^u who possessed sufficient surgical knowl; 'igo -. o \ act as attendant m cases ot accident. The Coroner wa9 about to suoi up when, The Foreman asked permission to «ay n \ few words. They had. heard the w- hoi? of the evidence, and the result had been wbMf he had expected — that the holding of tin? inquest was totally unnecessary. It had been said tbat reports were about, but be bad certainly heard of the poor fellows, be had not heard a single thing of a sitapirinu* nature. Two doctors were m attendance upon him, and a medical certifiwtte of »be cause of death had been gives, an,d he com sidered that after that there wns no necessity for causing fourteen, or fifteen to waste their time. The Coroner-said that from the evidence which had been elicited, certainly there was nothing whatever of a suspicious nature about the death, but reports had been m circulation that deceased had been neglected and therefore it was his duty as Coroner to inquire into the matter. In 'justice to the deceased, to the public and to those about whom tke reports had been raised he was bound to take that coarse. As be had stated it had been proven, tbat there were TV* grounds for the reports, but it was far better that ten inquests should be held without reason, than that fsome poor fellow's life. should be needlessly sacrificed, whhout the persons, liable beinjj brought to justice. That morning he had b"n informed by the police that such reports were about. Constable Gitle»pie said that he had been told so by Mr Deards, but that was only that morning, and while summoning the jury for the Inquest. '■ The Coroner then summed up shortly and after about ten minutes' deliberation, the. i jury brought m the following verdiot : — ♦'That the deceased, Edward Beardon died, on tbe Bth of January. 1881 from hemorrhage from injuries received to his leg by a tree falling on him him on the afternoon of the 7fch whilst at work m Fiteherbert." There was a resolution to the following ' effect j— "That thin Jury consider the railing of this inquest quite an unnecessary proceeding on the part of the Coroner, as there are no circumstances whatever attending the death of Edward RearJon requiring such an investigation." The Coroner said that if it were vrie wish of the Jury that the resolution should be forwarded m tbe shape of a letter, he would be most happy to do so, but it certainly could not be at.^aobed to "the yerdtet as » rider. The Foreman snid that m . that. «i»p ?! did. not matter, and the jury would attend to it. "