INQUEST.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 9, 5 January 1870, Page 7

INQUEST.

—o — On Friday last an inquest was held before Vincent Pyko, Esq., District Coroner, on tho body of John William Garrett, who had met his death the preceding evening through a fall from his horse, while riding from Cromwell to the Lowburn. Tho following evidence was tokon : Thomas Logan, sworn, deposed : 1 am a minor, and was one of tho partners of deceased. We have been partners for about four years. I last saw him alive on Thursday evening, at about nine o'clock. He was then starting from Goodger's stables. I spoke to him. Ho appeared to be in good spirits, and was perfectly sober. Ho said he was going to the Lowburn. That was tho last time I saw him alive. I saw his body when it was brought into Cromwell two or three hours afterwards. 1 was told that he had been killed by a fall from his horse. He had no relations in Otago. His father and mother are living at Chelsea, in England, and he has an uncle in Melbourne. I know this from deceased having told me so when alive.—[Mr Logan was deeply affected while giving the latter portion of his evidence. ] George Barclay, sworn, said : I am in business at Logautown, Beiuligo Gully. I started from Marsh's hotel, Cromwell, on horseback, for my place, about nine o'clock on Thursday evening. On going up Melinore-streot, I overtook Mr Garrett, who was also on horseback. As he was going in the same direction, we rode together, and conversed with each other. He told me not to talk loud, as it might mako his horse start off. He appeared to be perfectly sober, and was in good spirits. We were not riding quickly—only about six miles an hour. On crossing the Westmoreland Go's race he said, " Look out, as I can't see." The night was very dark. We rode on till we reached the corner of Johnston's farm. I was then a little in advance—about twenty feet or so. I then heard a splash. 1 jumped off my horse, and called "Garrett, Garrett!" but got no answer. I saw his horse rise from the ground, and proceeded to the spot, when I found deceased lying on his back. I called to him, but he never spoko a word. He was groaning, and there was a gurgling sound in his throat. I wetted my handkerchief, and bathed his forehead. I then coo-eed loudly for assistance. In about a quarter of an hour, a maa named De Bettencor arrived on the ground. He was driving a cart. We lifted Garrett into the cart, and just then a mate of De Bettencor, named Arkell, came up. We all got into the cart, and hurried on to Cromwell. We brought the body to Kidd's hotel. I have seen the body on view. It is the body of John William Garrett. Boaventnra de Bettencor, sworn, deposed : Am a miner, and reside at Five-mile CreekWas travelling along the road between my place and Cromwell on Thursday night. I passed Perriam's about ten o'clock. Shortly afterwards I heard a coo-ee. In a short time I reached the place where the coo-ce came from, and found last witness bathing tho forehead of some one on the ground, whom I recognised to bo Mr Garrett. I have known him for seven years. He was lying on his back, and there was a gurgling sound in his throat. We lifted liiin into my cart, and brought him to Kidd's Hotel, Cromwell. He did not show auy signs of life on the road. John Arkell, being sworn, gave evidence similar to that of the last witness ; and also deposed that on nearing Cromwell he left the cart, and went for Dr Corse, who was in attendance when the body arrived. Scrgcaut Cassells, sworn, deposed to having received information of the accident, when he proceeded to Kidd's Hotel, where the body was lying, and took possession of the property of deceased. Dr Corse also handed him some property belonging to deceased, which he had taken possession of prior to my arrival. He also deposed to having proceeded to the scene of the accident on the following morning, whero he found a hat belonging to deceased. Dr Corse, sworn, depossd : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, and resido at Cromwell. I was called upon on Thursday night by tbe witness Arkell, who informed me that Mr Garrett had met with an accident. I was in attendance at Kidd's Hotel on the arrival of the cart containing deecased, and mado a preliminary examination. I found life quite extinct. I examined the spinal column, and found that there had been a flecture of the cervical vertebra). The body was much discoloured, caused by compression such as would result from a horse falling upon anyone. There was great effusion of blood from the nostrils, and a quantity of frothy mucus at the mouth. The cause of death ■was the severance of the cervical vertebra, It was broken in two places. The third and fourth vertebne were broken. I took charge of some property which was on the person of deceased. This I subsequently handed to Sergt. Cassels. 1 am of opinion that the horse must have stumbled and thrown deceased on his head, as it would require some such shock to sever the vertebra; I have mentioned. This concluded the evidence; and the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death, caused by a fall from his horse."