INQUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 4019, 13 January 1876, Page 3

INQUEST.

FATi'.L ACCIDENT AT PORT CHALMERS The City Coroner hehl an inquest at the hospital to-.Say at noon, touching the death of Charles L<awson, seaman. John iVJ trir, master of the ship Jessie Read man. now ’ying at Port Chalmers, stated that deceased wxs an able seaman on that vessel, in which he recently came from London. He was unmarried., about thiriy-one years of age, and a Swede by nationality. Witness was in Dunedin when tbe accident occurred by which deceased met his .death. It was caused by tbe breakage of a chain while lifting a cylinder. This chain had bet n in use about three years, but they g'-nerally Ja-t about five. Deceased was asteady, industrious man, and had no relatives in thisjColony. John Eergusson, boatswain on the Jessie Roadman, said the crew were discharging a wool press on Tuesday morning last, witness driving the donkey engine. The cylinder was hauled up twelve feet iVom the deck, but had to be let down again, and on the second attempt it was raised cn one ei;d, when the chain snapped, and the cylinder swung against the right leg of deceased, crusiting it against a spar. He was conveyed to the railway station and attended by Drs Drysdale and Stenhouse. Dr Yates, house-surgeon to the Hospital, said deceased was admitted ori Tuesday morning. He was suffering from a severe compound fracture of the right leg. The Jbone was broken into pieces, the skin and flesh stripped off and lacerated. He was in a state of collaj se, and expired in the afternoon. Witness applied an instrument to stop the bleeding, and also gave him stimulants, but he did not rally at all. The jury returned a verdict of “Died from injuries accidentally received.” An inquest was held this afternoon nt Hardy’s North Dunedin Hotel, before Mr Uocken, Coroner, on the body of the illegitimate child of one Margaret Inj/in. The in quest was held in consequence «f there being no medical man in attendance a;t the time ol the child's birth. Evidence was given by Margaret Irwin’s mother and two other witnesses, after which The jury returned a ve-dict “ khat the child was still-born.”