CORONER'S INQUEST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 302, 7 February 1868, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Monday last at th? Dunstan District Hospital, licfore ILW. Robinson, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man, a patient in the Hospital, named John H. Hardy, a native of Dublin, about forty years oi age, who was admitted from the Teviot district suffering from disease of the heart. Dr. Charles Shaw, House Surgeon to the Dunstan Hospital, sworn, deposed that he knew deceased, who was a patient in the hospital, and was admitted on the 4th of December last. On his admission into the hospital he complained of a piin over the legion of the heart. c appeared to be very weak and wis much emaciated. On examination found a derangement oi the valves of th-3 heart. Under the treatment administered he appeared tc be greatly r< lieved, end within the last ten days he had been able to leave his bed. On the day of his death (31st of January last) he had walked to Clyde, a distance of about a mile. aw deceased as he was returning, about half past seven o'clock in the evening He was then within two hundred yards o the gate. Deceased said that he felt himself so very much better that he would leave the institution the next day. and return to his work. He wa. c in no way excited. A few minutes afterwards he was found dead at the gate. Saw the body of deceased the next morning. There were a few scratches on the face, indicating th 1 he had fallen on the gravel walk : there were no other external marks \isible Again saw the body this morning. It presented the usual post noitem ap pearance. I believe death to have been ca .";":•".' ..: t'.i th he..... By the police : When admitted i;ite

the hospital deceased had a pocketbook. Since his death I examined the book, and found the letter now pro duced, dated the 6th of September last. It appears to be from his brother, an nouncing the death of his father from disease of the heart. Charles Perkins, a servant at the hospital, sworn: Knew deceased. Recollected the 31st January. On that day deceased left the hospital for Clyde about half-past six o'clock in the even* ing. About eight o'clock saw him lying on his stomaeh just inside the hospital gate. Lifted the body and called for assistance. Pelt no pulsation, but the body was warm. There was a slight scratch on the side of the cheek, as if made in falling. M'Arten, the wardsman, came to my assistance, and attempted to restore animation, but there was no sign of life. I then to the town for the House SurJfk>n, and informed him of what had happened. Dr. Shaw did not return with me, being at the time engaged with a patient. Arthur M'Arten, wwdsman to the hospital, gave corroborative evidence. Michael Fleming, bootmaker, residing at Clyde, deposed that he knew -deceased in the Wakatip district. On the day of his death he Wd spent some time with him (witness) at Clyde. Decased said that he felt ri ht, except that his heart trembled a little while engaged washing some clothes. Dr. Charles Shaw, recalled by the Coroner : The evidence given by the 'different witnesses confimed his opinion as to the cause of death : but no such 'confirmation was necessary. I'isease of the lu-art was often hereditary in families, but not necessarily so. It is often caused byexposure to hot climates or by fast living. Knowing that deceased was suffering from disease of the heart, and judging from the posi tion in which the body Was found, did not consider it necessary to return to the hospital with the witness Perkins, being at the time engaged with a patient. T lie jury returned a verdict "Died from disease of the heart."