INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1879, 2 March 1880, Page 3

INQUEST.

A coroner’s inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., on the body of William Thompson, an inmate, who died on Saturday night. A jury having been sworn in, and Mr Joseph Taylor chosen foreman, the following evidence was taken :

Matthew Morris, M.D , said—l was called last Friday to see the deceased, about 2 p.m. He was lying on some sacks of chaff, in a cart at McLean’s Hotel, Araberley. He was very pale from loss of blood. I examined his right leg. The calf was laid right open, the muscles being torn into the bone, almost as if you had opened a book. He expressed a wish to be taken into the hospital. I simply put a cold water bandage to the wound. The hemorrhage had quite ceased. I should rather it was a cold water bandage. I did not examine the leg very particularly. I thought he was quite in a fit state to be taken to the Hospital. I was with him nearly an hour, and left absut three o’clock. I was called away to another urgent case, or I should have seen deceased off by the train myself. William Henry Dawkin, sworn, said—l was with deceased last Friday at Amberley. He was driving a dray laden with oats, and I was on the dray with him. He sat on the sacks. He was quite sober. We had got about three-quarters of a mile from Amberley when he got off for some purpose. Before I could see where he had got to I heard him crying from the ground, “ Good God, my leg is. brokenl” I turned the

horses round and came to him. He was bleeding very much from a gash in his leg. Not having any string, I tied the whip thong round above the knee. I was with him about ten minutes before I saw anyone. I sent a man who was coming along the road for a doctor. I remained with deceased until they came up for him with a cart. Mr Henderson came up with the cart and he and I tied a piece of string above the whip' thong, which he removed. He was not bleeding much then. Previous to that, a man had tied a handkerchief round deceased’s leg. I went back to Amberley with deceased. I left him with Dr. Morris and Mr Henderson,

Mounted-Constable William Watt, sworn, said—About three o’clock last Friday.afternoon, I was informed that an accident had happened at Amberley. I proceeded to the place and I found the deceased in a light cart lying on some bags of chaff. Dr. Morris was attending to him, I remained with him from that time to about five o’clock, and brought him down in the train as far as Hangiora. There was a lot of blood in the cart when we lifted him. I gave deceased into the charge of Constable Maher at Hangiora, and returned to Amberley. Constable John Maher sworn, said—The deceased was placed in my charge last Friday evening by the last witness, and I. brought him to this Hospital by train. Deceased was very quiet when given into my charge. About ton minutes before the train started he asked for a drink of water, and again for another at Kaiapoi. He was very restless between Hangiora and Kaiapoi, and threw himself about a good deal. He got bis hand into his mouth at one time and thought to bite his fingers off, but I prevented him. He gave his name as William Thompson. Dr. W. R, Davies, house surgeon to the Hospital, sworn, said—The deceased was brought into the Hospital a few minutes before 9 p.m. on Friday last. He was in a state of great prostration and semi unconscious. He was almost pulseless. He had a compound fracture of the right leg with extensive tearing away of the muscle and integument of the calf, and laceration of the posterior tibial artery. He died in about thirty minutes after his admission. I have since examined the body. I found the brain, heart, and all the other internal organs in a healthy condition. The immediate cause of deceased’s death was exhaustion from hemorrhage.

By a Juror—No other application beyond a handkerchief was round the deceased’s leg when he arrived. Other dressing might have been put on at Amberley, and disarranged during the Journey. I sent for Dr. Prins, the visiting surgeon for the week, and he arrived, accompanied by Dr. Irving, a few minutes after the man had expired. I consider the deceased was in a fit state to be brought from Amberley to Christchurch, the wound havirg been dressed previously. Constable Maher recalled, said in answer to a juror, that the leg of the deceased did not bleed between Eangiora and Christchurch. No handkerchief or anything was tied round the wound, but a piece of lint was laid between the wound and the sacks of chaff. A handkerchief was tied above the wound, as described by a former witness. The Jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental Death,”