INQUEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2147, 10 June 1889, Page 2

INQUEST.

«. An Inquest on the body of Mlohael Duggan, who died auddenly on Thursday evening, was held at the Obertsay Hotel on Friday evening before Mr L. Oxley, J.P., and a jury of six of whom Mr D. Todd was foreman. Daniel Gunu gave evidence as to finding deceased on tbe road n few yarda from the' the hotel and prroaring aaslstanoe to oarry him to the honae, where eveiy effort was mmde to Improve his condition, bat he Oiled almost Immediately. — Walter Tuoker, barman, stated that deoeased came to the hotel on Tuesday. He had not been drinking and was sober all the time. Ho was on his way to the store to obtain matohes when he fell on. the road. Deceased Blspt in the house on Tuesday night, but witness oould not say where on tha night previous to his death.— James Mitchell, manager of tho hotel, thought daceafced looked ill, but he said he was all right. Witness thought it better that he should go to Ashburton to the Hospital, and money was being got ready to pay the railway fare when he was brought into the house. Everything was done that was possible, and tbe poiioo were tetagrapned to for medical assistance immediately. On returning to the h" use deceased was dead. — Or L M Oordnerj o? Rafcaia, had made a post mortem. Found no marks of violence, and the body was well nourished. The cause of death was fatty degeneration of the heart, and was probably almost instantaneous. — Constable Black had known deoeased for a number of'years as Mlohael Duggen. He was lately at Rakaia drinking, ha left on Tuesday last, He waß a man of very qu'et habits, but addicted to drink. Nothing of importance was found n*i the body, and he was not aware that deoeased had any relatives in Canterbury. — The ju'y returned a verdict of " Death through fatty degeneration of the heart "