INQUEST AT LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2269, 12 July 1881, Page 4

INQUEST AT LYTTELTON.

An inquest was held at the Mitre Hotel yesterday before Dr. Frankish, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr John Milnes was chosen foreman, touching the death of the man found on the Port hills onJSaturday night. James Angus failed to appear when called, and a fine of £2 was imposed against him. The first witness was Ernest Bradley, a cadet in the railway department. He said that Charles Fisher, Charles Willoox, and himself were in company on the Sumner road on Saturday last, when they came across the body of deceased in a bush, as described in yesterday’s issue of the Pbess. Hugh Macdonald, M.D., said that he made a post mortem examination of the body, and found no marks of external violence. All the organs were found in a healthy state, excepting the right lung, which bore traces of old disease. The stomach was empty. The cause of death was, in his opinion, exposure and wont of nourishment, the last conclusion being from the appearance of the stomach. Tho man had probably been dead a month before he was found. In reply to Sergeant Moriee, Dr. Macdonald said he found no bones broken, and his skull was intact. Constable Allen, who accompanied the witness Bradley to the spot where the body was found, gave evidence of removing the corpse to the public morgue. He also testified that around the body no signs of a struggle having taken place were found where it was discovered. Sergeant Moriee, in charge of the police at Port, testified that the deceased was apparently thirty-six years of age, and about sft Sin in height, of medium build, brown hair, no whiskers, but had a little moustache and beard of sandy color, also a good set of tooth ; features round, ears and nose small, Evidence was given as to the contents of the deceased’s pocket*. The police had mode every inquiry since tho body was found to ascertain who tho deceased was, but without success. The Jury returned a verdict “That deceased had died from exposure.”