CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 302, 7 February 1868, Page 3

CROMWELL.

An inquest was held at the Orom" well Hotel, on ' atui'day last the Ist instant, before H. W. Robinson, Esq., on the body of David Perr, who 'died on the 31st tilt, from severe injuries received. The deceased was a shepherd in the employment of Messrs Loughnan, brothers of Mount Pisa, ?,n I was about forty years of'age. Dr. Corse, sworn, said : 1 was culled upon to attend deceased on Tuesday m DTiing last, the 28th tilt, at Perriam'.s Hotel. "When 1 first saw him ' thought lie was dead. I found a e ntused w-mnd cutting through the right £, ar, also a fracture of the parieral bone. There was great effusion of bio d. The hrain was much lacerated. A great deal of it was brought away by the flow of blood. I i-emoved a splinter of the skull, replaced the hrain, and dressed the wounds. De_ •ceased wa-> insensible daring the operation I saw him again on the next d ly when ho was sensible enough to say yes or no. He died yestuday about 2 p.m.. Upon examination, I observed strong signs of drink, he died fritm the effects of the wound, and 1 do not believe had I been in attendinca immediately after the accident I could have saved him. The blows might have been inflicted by the shoes of a horse John Pcrriam, sworn, said : I know the deceased. On the morning of the accident between G and 7 a.m. the deceased, in company with another men started from my Hotel, with a horse and dray ;, deceased had been drinking the night before, but was tint so drunk when he started, but that he could take charge o'f the horse The other mm was drunk ; about half an hour after they had left my hotel, hearing of the acoi lent, I proceeded to tin spit, ail saw the deceased lying on the ground, the other man was holding up his head from which, blood was flowing freely. The horse with the cart was standing quietly, two or three yards from the men. I believe t the wounds were caused by the horses feet. I immediately sent for the Dr. also for Mr. Loughnan, in whose employ the deceased was. Robert A. Loughnan, sworn : Knew the deoeased. He was a shepherd in my employ. From information I received I wen t to Perriam's Hotel, where I saw deceased, badly wounded. The horse was a dangerous animal, but having every confidence in the men I allowed them to take it I believe deceased was a single man, about forty years of age, and a Scotchman. T. Cubitt, sworn : I knew deceased, end was in company with him on Tuesday morning Saw him and another man start from Perriam's store about

seven o'clock a.m. He was suffering from the effects of drink taken the night before. The other man was so drunk that he could scarcely stand, bout a quarter of an hour after they started I and a man named Campbell followed, and about three hundred yards from the hotel saw deceased lying on the ground, bleeding from wounds in the head. From the position of the. dody of deceased I believe he must have been knocked down by the horse and trampled upon. I spoke to the other man, who could give me no information except that he had done all he could, having lifted his head and put a coat under it. I assisted in conveying deceased back to the hotel. He was insensible all the while. Deceased was accustomed to horses. The Jury after conferring for a short time, gave a verdict of " Accidental Death."