INQUEST.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 86, 10 January 1893, Page 2

INQUEST.

Mr Snelson (Coroner) held an enquiry at Light's Denbigh Hotel yesterday evening, concerning the death of Elizabeth Wright, a widow, about 63 years of age, who was found dead in her house in Manchester street, Feilding, on Sunday evening last. The jury was constituted as follows : — Messrs Donald Fraser (Foreman), J. C. Morey, Joseph Freeman, A. Williamson, James Fordyce, aud Fred Keen. Constable Tuohy deposed that he was called to the residence of the deceased on Sunday night about 10 o'clock ; She was dead, and the body was lying on the bunk with the head lying over the side and the left hand clutching a vessel, as if in the act of vomiting ; Witness had known the deceased for two or three years past, and had frequently seen her the worse tor drink ; She alwayß had plenty of food in the house. William Hill, horsebreaker, deposed that on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. ho was sent for to Hastie's Hotel, and on going over, Mrs Hastie instructed him to drive the old lady home as she was unwell, and very weak. At the same time Mrs Hastie undertook to pay all expenses, and gave the deceased a kit full of provisions, also a little weak brandy and water as she seemed very feeble. Witness drove deceased home, placed her on the bed, and asked her how she felt. She replied much better, and thanked witness most heartily for his kindness. Thomas Tuohy deposed, that on Sunday evening shortly after 8 o'clock, in consequence of representations from Mrs "Wright's neighbourly, who had not seen her about all day, ho wont to her residence, and on going inside he found the deceased lying on her bunk, and quite dead. Witness at onco informed his father uu his return home. Dr. Johnston deposed to being called to the house of the deceased that morning. Her left hand was grasping a vessel which contained a quantity of vomited matter. Jn the act oi vomiting tho heart must have ceased boating and death resulted. Witness had known tho deceased fur tho past Hi years. She had been of irregular and intemperate habits, especially uinco bur husband's death. He had no hesitatation in saying, that death resulted from syncope, or failure of thu heart's action. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, to the effect that death resulted from failure of" the heart's action, brought on through a course of irregular life.