INQUEST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 575, 25 April 1873, Page 3

INQUEST.

—o—- ( From the" Wahatip Maxi) An inquisition was [held in the Library Hall, Skippers, on the 15th inst., before p, Beetham. Esq., Coroner, touching the death of Elizabeth R. MtDougall, who was killed the previous Saturday, A jury of twelve having been empaunelled (T F. lloskruge, foreman) the following evidence was given : William Caldwell, minor, deposed— I live on the north side of Pleasant Creek. I know one M ‘Douga.ll. I have seen his wife. I saw her on Saturday morning, between 8 and 9 o’clock ; she was on the Pleasant Oracle track, .walking with another man. Three-quarters of an hour after that I again saw her ; she was calling her children from towards Mr. Moore’s place ; they appeared to refuse to return,. 1 never saw her again till I caw her at the bottom of the precipice. Saw her about 200 yards lower down the creek between 10 and 11 o’clock. 1 saw the deceased falling into the creek; she would have fallen about 100 feet; she must have struck some af the rocks in her descent. I was on my claim at the time. I told my mate (Anderson) to go and see who had fallen. I also went at the same time, I saw Mrs. M‘Bengal lying on the ground, she was nab quite dead at that time ; she could not speak, 1 could not detect any smell of iiquor. She had only light lo a on. The ground at the top of the precipice is very slippery, and such boots would not give her a safe footing on it. When I saw she was slipping, 1 did not see any person on the slope above. I assisted Anderson to convey the body to M'Dougall’s house, J. Anderson, minor, deposed—l live on Londonderry Terrace. lam a mate of Caldwell’s Was working in the claim on Saturday last. About 11 o’clock, Caldwell sailed to me that something had fallen in to the creek : he (isted me to see what it was. I asked him what it was ;he said it might be a mau for all he knew. I found a woman lying on the tailings Mrs. jvßDougll; she was not dead, but she was speechless ; sire mighthavolivodfrom five to ten minutes ; she never moved a limb ; she was lying partly in the creek, and her head was partly covered. 1 move i her slightly 1 rjr.nl There was no smell of drink. I think if she had been drinking 1 should hj .vej letccted it. I subseqmnp'y as-istod to remove her to MTDougaU’s place ; she was dead when vve removed her. I saw the same holy in the Cemetery. I had seen her three times that day, on other portions of the terrace. I heard her calling for her children on that morning. John M'Dougall, baker, deposed—The deceased was my wife ; her name was T.iza Riley ; she was thirty-eight years of age I saw her last at about halt-past 8 o’clock on Saturday morning ; she was then in good health and spirits. Had not noticed any depression of spirits. When we had a business conversation on the night previous she seemed somewhat depressed. Francis T. Ballon, Sergeant of the Police Station, deposed—The scone of the accident was pointed out to me. There is a very steep, sloping bank, covered with grass, leading to the precipice ; and I th’nk that persons with boots on sueb as the deceased wore on that day, if they onco slipped, would not recover themselves. The Jury here retired, and after a brief consultation, returned a verdict “ that the s ud Elizabeth M‘l)ougaU met her death on Saturday, April 12, by accidentally falling over a precipice at Pleasant Creek, and not otherwise.”