Coroner's Inquest

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 23, 9 August 1890, Page 2

Coroner's Inquest

An inquest was held yesterday after" soon before G. M. Snelson, Esq., coroner, on the body of the late John Manson at the Pines, Feilding, whore the late gentleman resided. The following jury were empaunelled — Messrs Carthew (foreman), Morey, McFerran, S. J. Thompson, \V. G. H&ybittle, J. Bartholomew, junr., (substitute for Mr Richards). The latter gentleman for non-attendance was fined A's by the Coroner. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was then taken : — Isabella Manson, sister of deceased, deposed : She last saw her brother alive at about 10.40 on Wednesday morning, he leaving for the Harbor Board Block in his buggy, and appeared to be in his usual good health and spirits ; within the last week he complained of a pain near the centre of his chest, and also about a fortnight ago he complained of the same pain when witness and her brother were visiting the locality where deceased was found dead ; two doctors (Prins, of Christchurch, and Collins, of Wellington) had warned deceased not to take rough exercise, or over exert himself, as his heart was weak; deceased was about 68 yearß of age. (Mr Richards here put in an appearance, and having satisfactorily explained the cause of his absence, the Coroner remitted the fine, and Mr Richards took his seat as a juryman.) Clifton Charlton, duly qualified medical practitioner, practising in Peilding, deposed : Had not attended deceased professionally when alive ; had made a thorough examination of the body on the 7th, and found no marks of violence ; he considered that death had been caused by heart disease. Isabella Curran, wife of John Curran, residing on the Valley road, Harbor Board Block, deposed : Remembered on Wednesday last Mr Manson stopped opposite the gate between 12 and 1 o'clock and asked for Mr Curran or his sons, who were all absent ; told him that her husband would be home at 4 o'clock, when he informed her that he wanted to let her husband some fencing, but deceased said that he would see Mr Curran another time ; deceased appeared to be quite well. Patrick Lynch, servant of the late Mr Manson, deposed : In consequence of the deceased not arriving home by 9.30 in the evening Miss Manson sent witness in search of him ; found hia buggy opposite Mrs Cooper's gate at 12 o'clock, and the horse was loose in the paddock ; searched in company with others till daylight next morning, when the search party was increased to about 16 persons ; between 8 and 9 o'clock the body was found ; (witness described how the latter was placed); the locality where deceased was found was very rough in places ; his lunch in the buggy was |nntouched ; witness wa6 expecting Mr Manson about 3 o'clock at whe:e he was working —on the same block. John Bartholomew, senr., sawmiller, deposed : Was one of the search party ; saw two boys on a hill pointing out an objec!; ; went with others and found the body ; (witness corroborated the previous witness 1 eyidence as to the description of how the body was lying when found) ; thought that deceased had been trying to catch his horse when he fell or sat down. Constable Tuohey, of Feilding, deposed : From information received on Thursday, he proceeded to the scene of the death, and accompanied the remains to Feilding; failed to find any marks of violence on the body ; tearc ;ed deceased's pockets, and found watch and chain, bunch of keys, 3 ill notes, 13s in silver, Id in copper, pocket knife, pair glasses, and a quantity of letters and documents; visited the ground where the body was found, it being of a flat surface, and brought to Feilding three pieces of wood (produced) on which the body was resting; there was no appearance of any struggle having taken place. The Constable was instructed to retain possession of the articles found on deceased until the latter's brother arrived from New South Wales, when the will would be read. The Coroner thought the telegrams which were received from Dr Prins and Dr Collins, together with Dr Charlton's evidence, were sufficient to prove that deceased had died from heart disease. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was caused by an attack of heart disease, and there was no evidence to prove that there had been any foul play.