CORONERS' INQUESTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2183, 7 August 1875, Page 2

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

THE LATE MR 8.8. FOX. The body found on the beach at the Twelve-mile Bluff was brought to Cobden on Thursday evening by Mr Ancher and Mr Boylan, friends of the late Mr E. B. Fox, and by others who lent their assistance. On Friday, the District Coroner, Mr Broad, held an inquest at Hamilton's Hotel, when the following evidence was taken : — John Kittelty, bootmaker, Greymouth: I have seen the body shown to the jury. I identify it as the body of Edward Burton Fox, from the boots upon the body. One of his boots had apparently been put to the fire to dry, and he came to me to put in a semi-circular patch to repair it. The boot that is on the foot now is the same boot. that I repaired for Mr Fox. EoberfcM'llroy, storekeeper, Seventeenmile Beach : On Thursday, about nine o'clock, as I was coming along the beach to Cobden, and when I reached the Twelve-mile I saw the body shown to the jury lying between high and low water mark. I came in and gave information to the police^ and subsequently went out and assisted in bringing the body in. The body was apparently washed up by the surf. It had a pair of boots and socks on, and what appeared to be the wristbaud of a Bhirt round his wrist. Edward Ancher : 1 knew the late E. B. Fox. On Friday last he started from Greymouth for Hokitika on horseback. He intended to return the nest day. On Sunday his horse was found between the Teremakau and New River. Search was instantly made for the body of Mr Fox, who was missing, but without effect. His age was 47. He was a native of Portobello, Scotland. He was a single man, and had no relations in the Colony. Hehad lost some teeth in the upper jaw, and I noticed these being missing in the body shown to the jury, and the thumb on the right hand is damaged similar to that of Mr E. B. Fox. I identify the body as his. The jury returned a verdict that the body had been identified as that of Edward Burton Fox, who had been accidentally drowned. THE LATE MB G. W. PIZZEY. The following evidence touching the death of Mr George William Pizzey, of Hokitika, is reported in the Times : Benjamin T. Applebee, commercial traveller for the firm of Pizzey and Co., brewers : The deceased was my step brother. He has been in Hokitika twenty months. He came from Bsrkhampstead, in Hertfordshire. He was in very bad health there, and came to 'the Colonies to improve his health. He got considerably better since he came out, and always seemed in excellent . spirits. He took great interest in the business, but had no share in it. His occupation was general manager and representative of his brother, Samuel Pizzey. My idea is that he overworked himself ; that is that he made unnecessary work for himself. It was his hobby to be in the office. His previous occupation was that of an accountant. On Saturday last I observed a slight alteration in his manner He did not seem 30 jolly. When I saw this change in his manner I got Mr Osborne, of the Empire Hotel, to come down to see him. Mr Osborne and he then laughed and chaffed together, and Mr Osborne expressed the opinion that; there was nothing wrong with him. Mr Qsbqrne then remarked that all *hat he wanted was, a little jollying up. Subsequently, with, the view of bracing up his spirits, we asked -him to go but for a drive the length of Ellis's, at the Arahura, but he said tie did not care about it. I saw lim each day since, until Tuesday morning. On that morning I went into the office at 8.30 a.m. I passed through the large gate going to the brewery, and saw the top of a white hat through the side window of the office. The door was not locked. The deceased was sitting on a chair underneath the side window. I said, "Hullo, Will, what are you doing here ?" He replied, "To tell you the truth, Ben, I was out very late last night, and I thought I would have a nap here," He appeared to have jus^ woke up, and he sgemed perfectly rational. I noticed no change in his manner then. That was ion the day he died. On Tuesday I handed him a list of accounts, which I had collected on the Monday previous. I remained with him for about an hour, during which time he spoke in a perfectly rational manner j I left the office then with "the intention jof calling at Mr .M'Levie's.. I was just over the pathway into the street, .when the

deceased came running -to the door, and said, "Ben, I wish you would bring over ray powder flask; you will find it in the top drawer of the chest of drawera." At the same time, he had the keys of the office in his hands. I replied, " why can't you go and get the flask yourself V He again replied, " Oh go aad get it for me, there's a good fellow." I went over to the houss lo fetch it. I then met Mrs Applebee. I told her what he wanted, and she Baid, "if I was you I would not. take it." I looked over to the office and saw the deceased standing, at the door of the office waiting. Remembering having seen, the day previous, a ramrod and the nipplescrew of a pistol lying over in the office, though I had often seen the same before, I thought I would not get him the powder-flask, and I did ;.not : do bo. In an hour or so afterwards I went into Dr Dermott's and asked '.him '-to see the deceased. J)t Dermott went to see him, and subsequently told me that he thought there was a slight change, and that possibly it might be the symptoms ot delirium tremens. The doctor thought he ooght to be watched for a day .or two. ; I asked the doctor to see him again in the afternoon. Tie doctor promised : tq do so, aayir-g that if he was not better then, he would prescribe a composing draught. I did not see the deceased "after "that. I kept away from him all the afternoon, fearing that he would demand the keys of the drawers where the powder was kept, which I felt I could not refuse to give him. I subsequently went to see Mr Osborne again. This would be about seven o'clock in the evening. -4jffe were going down to see Dr Dermotty^- second time, when I was met' by Kolbff, one of the workmen in the brewery, who told me that he had heard the report of a pistol in the office, and that the office door was open. We three walked back to the office. All was in darknes3 r then, but the door was open. I asked Mr Osborne to go in to see if there was anything the matter. Meanwhile, Koloff went and got a light. Osborne and Koloff went into the office together. Osborne came out almost immediately, and : said " Your brother has shot himself," or words to that effect. I went inside and looked at the deceased. He; was lying with his face partly down. He had the same clothes on a3 he had in the morning; I scarcely recollect what I did after that. 33e had a revolver for years. .; He used to go out with it on the beach, and has carried it . ever since he has been in) Hokitika. He brought it from ;En'gland with him. He slept with it under his pillriw every night. If he took a stroll anywhere, he took it with him as a plaything. I have seen him load it scores of times. He was about fifty years of age, and single. Dr Dermott : I last saw. deceased alive on the 3rd inst. On ! that occasion I waß asked by Mr Applebee, at 11 o'clock, to see the deceased, as he, Mr Applebee, thought he was peculiar. Mr Applebee informed me that he had not been prinking to his knowledge, and that he had been sleeping in the office. I went to the brewery. The deceased was standing in the door of the brewery, apparently in his usual dress. I talked to him upon abstract subjects, not to cause any suspicion in his mind. My questions were replied to coherently. I asked him how he felt with this weather. He replied that he was tolerable. I remarked that his manner was gloomy and different to his usual jovial style of expressing himself. I then left him and met Mr Applebee. and told him that deceased appeared very much changed, and that he seemed to be suffering from deliriim iremems. Mr Applebee spoke to me about the habit deceased had of carrying a revolver. I recommended that deceased should be watched, and that he should be taken out for a drive,' and that in the evening he should have some composing medicine. Mr Applebee asked me to see him again. I was very busy during the day; and did not see him again alive. I considered there was no use trying to make. him take anything during the day, but intended giving him some medicine: that evening. I made a post mortem examination of the body. I think it right to remark that the uninjured portions of the brain presented peculiarities. ;'.] _ \; By a juryman: Would the want of proper, food and of ordinary sleep have the effect of causing this ddirivm referred to? ; ..;,. / • Witness : I think it would have that effect. ■"■'>; Sergeant Blanc said : I- searched through all his papers, and looked at the letter book in the office. The last letter was dated 29fch July, and Was" written to Mr Harrison, member for the "Grey Valley. ■ There was nothing in that letter to indicate insanity. ; . ... The Coroner could only acsountfor the step taken. by the mind of the deceased being unhinged from some cause unknown. He had seen Mr Samuel Pizzey that afternoon, but he did not think it necessary to have "called him as a witness as he could throw no light whatever on the matter.- The last letter received' from the deceased by his brother was on Monday night, which was produced. Only a portion of the letter was read by the Coroner, which appeared to be written in cheerful terms, expressing satisfaction at the progress of the business. - : . The jury, after afew minutes deliberation, returned a verdict "that the deceased came by his death by a Bhot from a revolver inflicted by his -own hand, when in a state of temuorarvjrijinitv."