A FATAL DEBAUCH.

Evening Star, Issue 3815, 17 May 1875, Page 2

A FATAL DEBAUCH.

Information was received in Cromwell on Friday that a man named Bynon was lying dead in a hut in Potter’s Gully, Garrick, his death being the result of a drunken debauch he had kept up for some days in company with his mate, Matthew O’Eorke, and a storekeeper named Birnie. The police on proceeding to the spot found the report correct, and at once took the necessary steps to have the body brought in to Carrickton, where an inquiry waa held ou Monday and the following particulars were elicited;— While the storekeeper, Birnie, was indulging his depraved appetite for drink, his wife came into Cromwell, as she said, to look for him, leaving a family of small children ie Potter’s —an out-of-the-way place, where the population is composed of a number of Chinese. The woman seemed unsettled in her mind, and talked vaguely. The mystery is, how she managed to get through the snow, which in places is very deep. However, she did manage, and got home again all right, it seems. On Tuesday last the police officer in charge received a message from Mr Cowan, Kavmrau Station, to the effect that the woitaan had come to his place (about six miles from her own residence) the night previous, with a dying child in her arms. The child was token from her, restoratives applied, and the wanderers accommodated for the night. When morning came, it was found the mother bad left the place, and no trace of her could be found. The police are now searching for her. There is no doubt tho poor woman is out of her mind, and fears of the worst are entertained, as the snow is very heavy on the ranges just now. The coroner’s jury returned the following verdict:—" The jury ax* •f opinion that_ John Bynon’s death was caused by excessive drinking and exposure to cold. The jury also wish to add that in all oases of andden death, a post mortem examination should take place, for the better satisfaction of a jury. The jury also axe of opinion that Mr Birnie showed great in not reporting the case sooner to the police, (