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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 395, 19 July 1866, Page 2

A Sab Stobt, —An inquest was held on Saturday at the Court-house, Bacchus Marsh, on tho body of a person named W ilcox. The particulars of the case are unusually affecting. The details of neraly all inquests are horrifying in a greater or lesser degree; hut there are some which stand out prominently, on account of the peculiar circumstances connected with them. The one we are about to narrate is peculiarly saddening, both from the antecedents of the deceased and the lamentable incidents associated with his death. On "Wednesday morning a person named Kelly, who had reason to suppose that a warrant had been issued for his'apprehension upon the charge of horse-stealing, while crossing the country from Pentlaud Mills in direction of Gurrockburk-gap, for the purpose of effecting his escape, descended ■ho almost perpendicular bank of the Werribee River, with the view of ascending the steep ascent on the other side of the stream, so as to arrive at the lonely plains in the county of Grant, with the object of secluding himself in the gloom of the Ironbark Ranges. As he stooped to slake his thirst from the Waters of Werribee he was startled by the barking of a dog; looking round, ho saw tho prostrate form of a human being, and a small brown dog standing in close close contiguity, as if

acting in capacity of sentinel. Kelly hesitated for a moment as. to his duty in the emergency, but unfortunately his dread of the consequences of his own offence, led to the adoption of a course which, in all probability, eaused the death of the unhappy man. Had ha retraced his steps for two miles, efficient aid could have been secured, and means adopted to restore the poor fellow whose life was fast ebbing away for lack of common attention. A double terror took hold of the fellow, and he sped up the acclivity, and made for the ranges. Previous to sunset he met with a shep. herd in the employment of Messrs Green and Burt, to whom he imparted the intelligence that a fellow-creature was either dead or dying in the Werribee Gorge—giving, as an excuse for bis own inhumanity, that he was escaping from the hands of justice. The shepherd, after folding his sheep, informed Mr Burt of the circumstance, and tha fc gentleman next morning wrote to sergeant Kiernan of Bacchus Marsh. On Friday morning the sergeant, accompanied by constable Keefe, went in quest of the deceased; after a great deal of searching, entailing a vast amount of hardships, as those acquainted with the nature of that part of the country can readily conceive—they came upon what they believed to be a lifeless body. It may be mentioned that Kiernan had with commendable forethought, taken some stimulants and blankets, in the hope that they might be useful. Upon examining him, they found that life was not extinct, but evidence was not wanting to show that the moment was not far distant when body and spirit would be separated. After incredible exertion, the police succeeded in gaining the summit of the bank, their burden being moved only a few feet at a time, so difficult was the ascent, and sometimes on the back of one of the men, while he was held on. by the other. Previous to starting from the bed of the river, and also on arriving at the top of the bank, stimulants in moderate quantities were given. The only words articulated by the deceased were “ Where is my hat ? And it is somewhat remarkable that thq hat was missing and has not since been seen. He was conveyed in a cart to a police station at Bacchus Marsh, where he was carefully attended to by Dr Bone ; but in the brief space of two hours ha expired. On the following morning an inquiry took place, before the coroner of the district (Dr Rae,) and a jury empannelled for the pnrpose. The body was identified by a Richard Edwards (formerly a soldier in the 86th Regiment,) as that of Dr Wilcox, to whom he was known in India. Dr Bone, of Bacchus Marsh, gave evidence as to the cause of dea;h. The continued absence of Dr Wilcox from his residence at Mount Egcrton had induced his friends to fear that some fatality had occurred to him, and led to a suspicion that the deceased and Dr Wilcox were identical. The police accordingly instiuted iquiries which resulted in the production of evidence to show that such was the ease. The doctor left his residence on the Sunday previous while suffering from the consequences of overindulgence in alcoholic liquors, accompanied by his favorite dog. On Monday, it is supposed ho rambled among the Iroubark Ranges, as on Tuesday ho was seen by W. Anderson, poundkeeper at Bacchus Marsh, coming from that direction, and walking leisurely towards the Werri. bee Gorge. It thus appears that shortly after having been seen by Mr Anderson he must have been precipitated down the tremendous abyss, which at this spot is 500 feet deep. How he survived the fall, or lingered in excruciating agony for three days and nights, is unaecountable. His little comrade, with the usual sagacity so peculiar to the canine race, ou finding that his master was unable to move, retraced his steps to Mount Egerton, a distance of twenty miles, as if for obtaining assistance. In this he failed, however, although it would appear that there was something in the conduct of the dog which excited suspicion that all was not right with its master. The affectionate creature then started for the Werribee, and when the body was removed the faithful animal followed it to Bacchus Marsh, seven miles distant, and from thence to its last resting-place in the general cemetry. From authentic sources, we have gleaned a few particulars of the life and conduct of the deceased which we publish, not for the purpose of exposing the failings of a fellowworm, but from a hope that the follies, vices, and consequent miseries of an erring mortal, may act as so many warnings and admonitions, so many beacons, to turn others from the rock ou which ho was shipwrecked. He was connected by family ties with some of the higher classes in the Korth of England, and at an early ago took his diploma in the Royal College of Surgeons, England. Shortly afterwards he formed a matrimonal alliance with the daughter of a clergyman, by whom he became father of two children. Even at that early period of his history he was much given to habits of intemperance, and was the cause of great anguish of mind to his amiable wife and her relatives. His subsequent offences rendered exp atriation necessary j and employment was found for him in India as a surgeon in the company’s service. His unfortunate propensity to “ put an enemy into his mouth to steal away his brains ” led to the commission of an act derogatory to the office which he held, and nis dismissal was the consequence. The Lord Elphiustone, troop-ship, was caartcred in 1853 to convey a number of discharged soldiers of the B‘dth Foot from Calcutta to Melbourne. There was a difficulty in obtaining the servicess of a surgeon to accompany the men. Dr Wilcox presented himself, and was accepted. After a short sojourn in Melbourne lie arrived at Bacchus Marsh, where he practised as a medical man for a few months; but his continued indulgence in the degrading vice of his life led to the abandoning ot a field of usefulness and reasonable recompense for the hardships and uncertain remunerations of the gold-fields. Taking up his abode at Mount Egcrton, he hits for twelve years led a life of almost continuous drunkenness, the only sober intervals being attributable to the want ot means to obtain a supply of tlie madden-, ing liquid. —West Bourko Guardian, 9th June.