INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1488, 22 November 1878, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was bold yesterday, at 3 p.ra., at Collins’ Hotel, on the body of Charles Morgan, who was found hanging in n small wooden lean-to in Hereford street, to the left of the hold. A jury having been sworn in, and Mr Geo. Pinrcy chosen foreman, they proceeded to view (he body, after which the following evidence was taken ; Christian Klingonstein, boarding house

keeper, deposed as follows—l have known tho decoas! d for a long time, for the last twelve months ho frequented my house, lie used to have one meal a day. The last time I saw him alive was last Saturday. He seemed very low and d< pressed in mind. He said he had had a full irom a horse about three months ago. and had never been right since. On Sunday evening I went to his door and asked him how hr was, and if he had had anything to eat that day. Ho said “ Yes, he had a little in the morning.” I asked him if I could get him anything che that evening, and he said “No t ank you,” so I wished him “Good night,” and I never saw him since until now. I recognise. Iha body us that of Charles Morgan. I think in former years ho drank heavily, and took his glass lately, but I have not seen him intoxicated. By a juror—The deceased had a patent for some oils, described as Morgan’s oils, and deceased told me that one of the Mannings had an agency at Kaiapoi for their sale. Thomas Aldridge, stableman at Collins’ Hotel, being sworn, said—l have associated with the deceased every day for the last twelve months. 1 saw deceased last Saturday in Cashel street, and I stopped and spoke to him. Ho seemed low spirited, and has been so for some time, but I do not know the cause. He was in the habit of coming int o the hotel for his glass of grog and lunch. I never saw him intoxicated. What ho drank was ginger brandy mixed with water. I never heard him siy that he would destroy himself. George Wheeler, hotel keep r, said—l have known deceased about four years. I never expected he would hang himself. Ho was in the Habit of coming into the hotel daily for his paper, except on Sundays, when ho always remained at homo. At one time I believe he drank a good deal, but latterly he has been very sober. I last saw him alive on Saturday morning, and in answer to my question how he was, tie said lie was not very well, and he did not expect ever to bo any better. He had an accident some time back, und he said he had never been right since, lie also said he hoped that ho could go to bod and never rise again. I expected one day to find him dead in his bed, but never thought ho would destroy himself. Ho had boon a man of very irregular habits, and that was tho reason I thought ho might go off suddenly. He always appeared to have sufficient money tor his wants. ’Thomas Gray, being sworn, said—l am a gardener, living in Gloucester street east. I have known the deceased for twenty years. Ho was, as far as I knew, a sober man. Yesterday morning I came to this house to borrow a rake. They were speaking about Morgan, and asked mo if I would go with Harry Cook, the gardener, to see what was wrong with Morgan, as they could not make him answer when they knocked at the door. I then went with Cook and looked through the window, while Cook knocked at the door. There was no answer. Cook wanted to break open (he door, but I objected, and Cook then saw him through the window hanging. I looked through the window and saw deceased on his knees with a rope round his neck, by which I thought he was dead. Cook went for the police, and I remained unt.il they came, when (lie door was broken open, and the body was cut down, Serjeant Beck, being sworn, said—About nine ’ o’clock yesterday morning Henry Cook told me there was a man hanged near Colima’ stables. I came up to the little house in the yard and found the door locked. The door was forced open by a man standing by. I found deceased suspended from one of the rafters by the rope I produce. The slipknot was around his neck, and the strap was passed through a slit in one of the rafters. His back was towards the door, and he was on his knees. We cut him flown, but he was quite cold, and appeared to have been dead for sometime. The body the jury have seen is the same. He had only His shirt and trousers on—no hat or boots. We searched the body but found no money on him. Wo searched again to-day, and found 4s Id in the place, and an 1.0 il. for £2B; also a case of valuable instruments and a gold siguet ring. This was the whole of the evidence, and tho jury returned a verdict that “The deceased destroyed himself while in a state of temporary insanity.”