INQUEST.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 865, 3 April 1877, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday on the body of Daniel Mollet, at the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq, Coroner. Mr W. Pitcaithly was chosen foreman of the jury. The following evidence was taken - Constable Devine said—About 40 minutes past 11 p.m. on Saturday, I went aboard the Bonnie Lass, schooner, lying at the Tunnel Wharf. I went into the forecastle and saw deceased lying on his back dead, near his bunk, on the floor; one arm was across his breast, the other along his side; there appeared to be no marks on the body. I searched the body, and found two £1 notes and some silver and copper. I assisted in removing deceased to the Morgue. I did not know deceased. Win. Aitken said—l am master of the Bonnie Lass. I knew deceased, ho was formerly a seaman belonging to my vessel, but I discharged him last Thursday because he was s}ck and unable to go to sea. Deceased came aboard before dinner on Saturday, and remained aboard all day. He had been drinking, and after he came aboard he sat down on the rail, and I asked him had he been to sec a doctor, and he said, “No,” He was on deck till about 4 p.m., and then went below. I next saw him about 11 p.m., dead, in the forecastle, lying on the floor. Deceased was with ipe since February sth this last time, but I have known him ten years, and he has always been in the habit of taking drink when he could get it. J discharged him once before for drunkenness. ' Ho and the rest of the crew had not had any quarrel. Charles Johnson said—l am a seaman aboard the Bonnie Lass. I saw deceased for the first time on the day of his death, as I had only Just shipped. I saw him come aboard in the morning, but do not know if he was drunk or sober. At 5.30 p.m. I saw deceased drinking out of a bottle; I do not know what was in the bottle. About ten minutes or a quarter-past ten that night I went into the forecastle, and saw deceased lying dead on the floor. J. T. Rouse, sworn, said —I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing in Ly ttelton. About midnight on Satiny I was called to

see deceased, I went down to the Bonnie Lass and found him lying on the forecastle floor ; ho had been dead some time, as the body was quite rigid, though not perfectly cold. I [directed the body to be removed to the Morgue, and this morning held a post mortem examination. The body was well nourished, and there were no external marks of violence, but (.lie veins of the skin were generally congested, those of the scalp being specially so, and also the brain and its membranes. The cavities of the brain contained an unusual amount of serum, the lower lobe of the right lung was extensively diseased, in fact almost disorganised. The heart was large and flabby, and cavities empty. The stomach showed one large red patch, the contents being a third of a pint of a fluid nature. The liver was much enlarged and fatty : right kidney healthy, left very large, showing Bright’s disease. My opinion is that the immediate cause of the man’s death was from drink. He may not have drunk enough to have killed a healthy man, but in liis diseased state he has no doubt died from the effects of alcohol, judging from the appearance of the brain and venous system. The jury returned a verdict of “ Died from natural causes through effusion of serum on the brain.”