Inquest on Jobling Watts

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 129, 28 April 1892, Page 2

Inquest on Jobling Watts

Yesterday afternoon an inquest, before Mr Snelson, district Coroner, was held at Light's Denbigh Hotel, on the death of Jobling Watts, tailor, of Feilding, who was found dead the previous day in the back premises ot the said hotel. The following jury were sworn : — W. Beading (foreman), R. B. Nolan, A. Hannet, H. Lance, W. Bellve, and J. Dunlop. Isaac Watts, son of deceased, disposed to his father having been of intemperate habits ; saw him on Sunday, but not again till summoned the day before, about two o'clock, to see his father, whom he found to be dead ; Deceased had suffered severely from rheumatic gout ; knew nothing to throw light on his death. Mrs Mary Light, landlady of the Denbigh Hotel, identified the body ; saw deoeaßed last on Tuesday about half past 10 to 11, iu the wash house, when he looked to be asleep; he was inclined to intemperate habits, but was not quarrelsome ; knew of nothing to cause his death, and did not believe he was ill-treated. John Sorley» surgeon, of Feilding, deposed to making a post mortem examination of the body ; found the heart extremely diseased, and the whole organ degenerated fattily, especially the auricular portions, and nearly the whole of the muscular tissue was replaced by fat ; there was no rupture of the heart, but there was little doubt that it was uuable to perform its functions ; in his opinion deceased died simply from syncope, and state of heart brought about by chronic alcoholism ; there was no marks of violence on the body. Frederich William Legg deposed to helping to remoye Watts from the bar of the hotel, assisted by Thomas Foster ; carried him into the yard, and laid him in the wash house ; he appearing to be sleepy ; about 1 o'clock went to wake him up, and found him dead ; called the cook and Mrs Light, and eent for the police ; deceased was handled very carefully. John Thomas Foster gaye similar eyideuce, adding that he had seen deceased in a like state before, but not so bad. The Coroner here remarked on the non attention shown to the deceased after taking him to tho washhouse, and thought it showed a poor idea of humanity. Constable Tuohy deposed to being called, going at once and finding Watts dead and cold ; witness described position of the body ; he musl have died very quietly, from the appearance of the floor, etc. ; fetched Dr Sorley, who pronounced him dead ; had known Watts for many years in Auckland and elsewhere, and always found him a very honest, hardworking, and inoffensive man, and very respectable but for drink. The jury returned a yerdict in accordance with the medical evidence, viz., that Jobling Watts met with his death by syncope.