INQUESTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1348, 10 June 1878, Page 3

INQUESTS.

An inquest was held at the Hospital on Saturday, at two o'clock, before the coroner, Dr. Coward, on the body of Richard Houghton, who was found drowned the previous day in a drain on the Stanmore road. A jury having been empannelled, and Mr H. Hobday chosen foreman, the following evidence was taken : James William Wearn, deposed That about a quarter-past seven on Friday morning he was passing up the Stanmore road, when he saw what he thought was a coat lying in the ditch in front of Mr Fuller's house. It was p irtly lying on the bridge over the ditch, being washed there by the flood. He went up to ib and examined it, and attempting to drag it from under the bridge he perceived the back part of a human body. He attempted to pull it out but was unablfl to do so. He rui-ied an alarm, and Mr Fuller and two or three other gentlemen came -and assisted him to pull the body out. They found then that the body was lying oni<s face, the head and shoulders being wedged

between the bridge and the bottom of the ditch, which was about 2ft. wide, by 18in. deep. It was impossible to see the body from the road, as it was completely covered, all but the coat, by the water in the ditch. The legs were completely hidden by the water. He assisted to get the body out and then left. Jesse Hall, deposed—That he knew the deceased for a number of years. For the last three years he had been a moderate drinking man, more especially for the last three months, during which time he had been almost a teetotaller. He last saw him on Thursday night, at his (witness') house. He left between half-past six and seven o'clock in the evening. Deceased was perfectly sober then. Witness heard no more of deceased until Friday morning, when he was told he was drowned. Was not aware that his mind was in any way affected. Edward Pierey stated that he lived on the Stanmore road. Deceased came to his house at about a quarter-past seven o'clock on Thursday night for his dinner. He came with the brother of witness, who asked him to come in, but deceased refused, but eventually came in. He was quite sober. Deceased remained in about ten or twelve minutes, and then left accompanied by witness, who went with him for about 100 yards. They went up the Stanmore road towards the south, and then witness left him. He watched deceased go up on the left-hand side of the road, under the hedge. Witness previously had wished him "good night," and deceased was going in the direction of his home. By the Foreman —Deceased was quite sober. He had only had about a teaspoonful of brandy in the house. By a Juror—The ditch was in a line with the house of the deceased. It commenced to rain about a quarter of an hour after deceased had left the house. The ditch where deceased was found was a very dangerous place, and witness had frequently assisted to get carts out of it. The danger comisted in the fact that it was concealed by the trees and the hedge, and any one ignorant of the locality was therefore liable to fall in unawares.

Sergeant Adam Beck deposed that in consequence of information he had received he proceeded to Stanmore road, and in Mr Fuller's garden, which is situated near the corner of Worcester street east, he found the dead body of a man said to be Richard Houghton. There were no marks of violence on the body. On searching the clothes witness found the watch produced in his pocket. On opening the watch it appeared to have stopped at about 20 minutes past 7 o'clock. Witness had also found Is 3d and an old pipe and match box. He had the body removed to the morgue. By the Foreman The ditch though open was, in the opinion of the witness, dangerous, though a sober man, he thought, could extricate himself if ho fell in.

James Barker deposed that he had known the deceased eight or nine years, during which time he had worked on and off. Deceased was given to beer occasionally. Witness saw deceased alive on Thursday evening last on the East Town belt, when he wished him good night. He was perfectly sober, and capable of taking care of himself. Witness and deceased had drunk two or three glasses of beer in the course of the evening, but he was perfectly sober. By the Foreman —Was not in Piercy's house with deceased, but had wished him good night on the belt. Deceased waß going home. This terminated the evidence, and the jury returned a verdict that the " Deceased was found dead in a drain." Another inquest was held at 4 o'clock, at the house of deceased's parents, by Dr. Coward, on the body of William J. R. Husband, the infant son of George S. Husband. Mr W. L. Leggitt was foreman of the jury. The evidence of the father, of the mother, and of Dr. Townend was taken. The last had made a post mortem examination and gave it as his opinion that death had been caused from congestion of the lungs, and accelerated by effusion of serum in the heart. A verdict of " Died by the visitation of God" was returned.