INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2109, 26 November 1880, Page 3

INQUEST.

At the Hospital yesterday afternoon, the adjourned inquest was held as to the cause of death of one Michael Kenny, who died at the Hospital about two weeks since. The following additional evidence was taken : John Hayward, a guard on the Southbridge train, said he saw an old man on the train to Hornby on the Bth inst. He appeared to be lame and " childish.” Margaret Stuart gave evidence to the effect that she remarked an old man arrive by the Hornby train on the day mentioned. He appeared to be crippled. Augusta Wilson, wife of Alfred Wilson, residing near Yaldhurat, deposed that she knew deceased by sight. Saw him at the Christchurch Railway Station on the afternoon of the Bth instant. Ho travelled in the same carriage from Christchurch to Hornby. No accident happened to him. He appeared to be unwell and moved with some difficulty, witness noticing that he made one or two painful efforts to put his hand in his waistcoat pocket, before he succeeded in taking a piece of tobacco out. He also appeared unable to speak. He was assisted out of the carriage at Hornby. Did not see him alter that. Israel Sharp, a porter at Hornby, was on the platform on the afternoon of the Bth. when the train arrived. Observed an old man alight with a paper parcel and pair of boots. He went through some paddocks and wandered about for some time. Witness thought he was in liquor from his peculiar manner. Saw him last at a quarter to six o’clock some ‘chains from the station, and ?oing in the direction of hie home. Witness had not heard of any accident on the railway at that date. Amelia Carter, recalled, deposed—When she was speaking to deceased on the morning of Tuesday, the 9th, she asked him if the doctor at the Hospital had examined him. He said “No,” that they had not done anything to him. She asked this question because deceased was complaining of a pain in his side. She put her band on his side at his request, but could not feel through hie shirt that his ribs were broken. She did not say this at the inquest previously because she had not presence of m<nd. This concluded the evidence. Dr. Davis, re-called, stated that in cases of accident patients were always stripped and examined, this being done by the dresser. The deceased was in bed when witness examined him on the night of admission. In this case the attendant was present. He recollected feeling the patient’s ribs, but he did not detect fracture. Deceased insisted on leaving on Monday, and witness saw no reason to detain him. Witness believed that deceased died from injuries received since bis admission to the Hospital on the first occasion.

Richard Brown, re-called, deposed that when deceased was admitted, on the 6th inst., ho was taken to the accident ward, No. 6. Witness put deceased into bed and took his trousers off. The House Surgeon was then called in and took off the man’s shirt. No bruises were detected. The man did not complain of pain in the body. By a Juror—The examination was made by the doctor in the usual way. Nothing was said about bones being broken. By another Juror—He did not think that the man was so drunk as to be unable to complain. He knew the man well. He had been to the Hospital four or five times previously. He was naturally a stupid man. It is usual for witness to be present at examinations. He felt sure that deceased’s ribs were not broken when he was first admitted.

The jury then retired to consult, and brought in a verdict, to the effect that “ Michael Kenny died in the Christchurch Hospital from pleuro-pneumonia caused by fractured ribs, but how or when he met with the accident there was no evidence to show,”