IN QUEST.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1809, 8 December 1879, Page 3

IN QUEST.

An inquest was held at the Pier Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Saturday, before O. Dudley, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr E. Bates was foreman, touching the death of a man whose name was not known. Sergeant Scott slated that on F. iday evening he was directed to a rush hut on Mr E. Mulcock’s property at Elaxton, near th# road, where he found the body of deceased, as now dressed, in a bunk of dry mud with a slab side. The deceased was on his back, with his hands across his body. He appeared to have died an easy, natural death. There were no marks of violence. The body was covered across the feet with sacks. There were no blankets. A jug of water was near the body, a loaf of bread, some tea, sugar, and an egg. The deceased’s trousers were near, but saw no boots. Eoucd a pocket-book containing a paid account headed “ McKenie to Mr Dee, Oxford.” Inspector Buckley produced a telegram from Oxford stating that a man named Donald McKenie left there in June. He was very reserved. Deceased was about fifty-five years of ago. The body was conveyed to the morgue. Patrick Butler, a laborer, gave evidence that, in company with T. Dong, he saw deceas’d on Wednesday, who complained of a cold. Passing the hut on Thursday night, he thought he heard the man stirring about. On Friday evening he went to the hut with a man named Dwyer, and found him dead. John Dwyer gave similar evidence. B. Muloock, farmer, Flaxton, stated that deceased came to him about June last, and since then he had been raising firewood from some of the ground, which ho could sell. Gave him an axe and permission to sleep in a lean-to hut. As deceased was eccentric, he seemed to prefer the hut. He was in no way employed by witness. Deceased told witness ho had been in Oxford, and could not make it pay. Understood deceased was being supplied from tho store, and the storekeeper was taking the wood. Had no reason to think he was in want. Deceased seemed to be a Scotchman, about forty-five years old. J. King, storekeeper, Elaxton, stated in June deceased came to him for stores. He pleaded he was hard up, but would give witness wood which he was getting out of Mr Mulcock’s property. He said he had come from Oxford. Deceased had stores Supplied to him to the present, and witness had seven loads of wood from him. Deceased had as much from tho store as would keep him. About four weeks ago witness went to see him, as he did not come for stores. Deceased then complained of a bad stomach, for which he was taking bread sop. _He informed witness that he had been ill in a similar way for six weeks, and got better from that treatment. Witness sent him bread and whatever he wanted. Mrs King sent him boiled rice and t< a. He gave me the name of McKnechie. Witness considered deceased was about sixty years. He was very reserved. Ho owed witness a balance of about £6. Dr. Ovenden deposed he had made a post-mortem examination i.of the body. There were no appearances of violence, but general emaciation. Judged that he had been dead about thirty-six hours. The heart presented fatty degeneration. The stomach and towels were empty. Death had resulted from these causes. The jury returned a verdict that deceased had died from natural causes, accelerated by want of proper nutritive food.