Inquest at Waituna.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 34, 9 August 1897, Page 2

Inquest at Waituna.

An inqnest wa» held at the residence of Mr J. Gemmell, Waituna, yesterday afternoon, on the remains of the late Mathew Robert Miller, who died suddenly on Friday morning from the retulls ol a fall The inquiry was conducted before Mr G. M. Snelson (coroner), and tho following jury :— H. C. Wilson, (foreman), W. McDongall, J. H. Murray, ¥. Bowen, J. Warbnrton, and C. M. Powell. Constable Tnohy conducted the enquiry. J. A. Miller deposed to the deceased (witness' brother) having been 20 years of age. The deceased was delicate as a boy.

Robert R. Heath deposed : Had known deceased for about eight years ; had been in the same office as deceased at Napier, and was a companion of bis ; in December or January last was out riding with deceased on bicycles, when the latter fell off his " bike " from no apparent cause, except faintness ; deceased felt ill at this time and vomited ; on Thursday last came to Waituna witb the deceased on a visit to Mr Gemmell, having left Napier the previous day; en Friday morning witness and deceased went to tbe woolshed and after staying there for a short time the former suggested going down a paddock; deceased consented, saying he " did not feel up to much " ; they went about a quarter of a mile and starting for home they commenced to play " follow the leader " over the logs and stumps, deceased leading; the latter jumped a stump and then jumped sideways over a small dead log ; while jumping tbe latter deceased fell, but sot up on his feet immediately ; deceased said he thought he had " hurt himself this time," putting his hand to his chest; after a short time (about two minutes) deceased lay down, saying he bad a nasty taste in bis mouth and asked witness to light a cigarette for him ; deceased then said be felt sick and commenced to vomit, which appeared to hurt him ; then assisted deceased over a log witb a view to bis going borne ; deceased could only take two steps and then fell ; be then consented to witness going for help; witness placed deceased in a sitting position against a log and went to tbe bouse; from the time of the accident to tbe time witness went for help was about ten minutes ; returned witb help in abont ten minutes ; en returning deceased did not answer when witness spoke to bim and be believed him to be dead ; went for help to Mr Murray's, which was opposite, and they carried deceased to the hquse.

Geq. Fraser deposed to haying bee.n called by Heath to assist in taking deceased to Mr Gemmell's residence ; found deceased lying on bis back ; deceased was not breathing and witness believed he was dead then.

Dr D. Johnston deposed to having been called in to attend the deceased, whom he found quite dead ; examined tbe body externally; there were no bruises; from tbe evidence of R. R. Heath witness was of opinion tbat death was caused from injuries to tho solar ■plexus of neryes and tbat the cause of death was shock, resulting in inhibition of the heart's action ; inch an accident was likely to occur to a strong man. Constable Tuoby also gave evidence.

The jury returned a verdict " Tbat deceased's death was due to a shock to bis system awing to an accidental fall."

The remains of tbe above were sent through by train to day to Napier where a military funeral will be accorded tbe deceased he having been a member of the Napier Naval Volunteers. The funeral will take place to.morrow.