CORONER'S INQUESTS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 453, 11 February 1867, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

ON THE BODY OF JOSEPH GRAHAM. An inquest was held at the Napier Hotel, Hastingsstreet, on Thursday, 7th February, before Thomas Hatchings, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, on the body of Joseph Graham, then and there lying dead. The following witnesses were examined. James Gilroy, sworn, deposed:—l am general servant at the Mcanee Hotel; deceased was cook’s assistant. On the sth inst., at about 11 a.m., he was taken ill. I had seen him several times that morning ; lie seemed in his usual health. I saw him in bed in the afternoon, saying lie felt veryill ; I again saw him in the evening. Next morning, between six and seven, he complained of pains in his legs. I gave him some tea. I saw him afterwards in the kitchen; he then had his clothes on, and looked very bad. William Henry Frost, sworn, deposed ;—I am cook at the Meauee Hotel. I have known deceased for eighteen months ; he came out with me from England. He seemed in his usual health until breakfast time of the sth inst., but about half-past ' twelve on that day complained of feeling sick. He said he was very ill, that he had often felt so before, hut not so bad as he IHt then. I gave him salt : ;md hot water as an emetic ; lie vomited for about ' a quarter of an hour, and said he then felt better. 1 In the morning lie dressed himself and came down ' to the kitchen. 1 then sent him in a conveyance i to town to his brother. i

_ Robert Gruliam, sworn deposed;—l reside in hmpier and lam brother to deceased. Yesterday at half-past 10 a.m. I was called from my work to ■see my brother, whom I found at my house, brought’ in ill from Meanee. On my asking him how he was, he, said “All right.’’ I thought his manner very strange and his appearance too; his hands and wrists were cold and purple. I seat for Doctor Hatchings, who ordered mustard poultices to his feet and over his heart; gave him a little brandy and water and applied hot buttles to his hands and feet. He never rallied, and died about three o’clock.

G. I. Russell, sworn, deposed:—l am a medical practitioner, residing in Napier. I have this daymade a post mortem examination of the deceased. tV ituess then described the appearances presented by the principal organs, and said that, in his opinion, deceased died of venous congestion of the brain. Tlie jury returned a verdict of “Died from natural causes.” OX THE BODY OF THOMAS WILLIAM BEET. Ax inquest was held at the Albion llokd.Hastingsgtreet, at 10 a.m. on Friday, Stli February, before Thomas Hitchings, Esq., Coroner, and a'jnry, on the body of Thomas Win. Feet, who was drowned while bathing in the surf, at Napier, on Thursday, 7th February. The following witnesses were examined;— Thomas William Good Leviek, deposed: I know the deceased Thomas William Feet. Yesterday evening about half-past seven, I went with him and Mr A. C. llaymes to bathe; Mr Riddell afterwards came. The deceased and I began to undress to bathe. lie was undressed first, and went into the water. The waves were not, heavy when he went in, hut a heavy one came directly after and carried him beyond his depth. Haymes and Riddell both threw oif their coats and vests, and we rushed into the water after him, but it was quite impossible for us to seize him then. The surf was bo heavy that we were all knocked down several times, and each wave brought the deceased almost within our reach, and then took him back. He wae completely submerged by one heavy roller, and we did not see him again for about a minute. It was about four minutes before we reached him. Riddell caught him by the hair of the head and pulled him out. I had hold of Riddell’s wrist, We all helped to carry him up the beach. When we got him he showed no signs of life, but was quite warm. His eyes were closed. When we laid him on the beach I commenced to rub Ins legs with a towel, and Mr Haymes began to work his arms backwards and forwards. WTiile this was being done he vomitted a quantity of salt water and opened his ayes. Dr Russell soon came, and I went to get dressed, I have several times before bathed with him, but never in the surf. He could not swim much—he was only learning. Arthur Charles Haymes, deposed: About half, past, soVcii issi evening i went with deceased, tl;s last witness, and Mr Riddell to see if the sea was fit for bathing in. I would not bathe and advised deceased not to go into the water, as the sea was too rough, but he persisted. Daring a slight lull when the waves were low he went into the water, but this was succeeded by a number of heavy rollers, the drawback from which took him out of his depth. I saw him strike out, and shouted to him to swim for the shore, hut instead he swam in the same direction as the tide was taking him—parallel with the beach. Some heavy rollers passed over Jiliti, and we saw him struggling in the water. I pulled off my coat and boots, and ran to his assistance, accompanied by Riddell and Leviek. We had to nm along the beach, as deceased had swam nd drifted a good distance. When we were oposite to him, we rushed into the water, bat could

not pass through the surf. I do not know how deep the water was; hut I was swimming in it. It was Riddell who caught deceased, and then we pulled him through the roller that had brought him up. As soon as we had done this, the wave broke over us, and carried ns all up the beach, xue whole time deceased was in the water was eight minutes, for I looked at my watch. It seemed a much longer time. The only sign of life he showed after being drawn oat of the water was vomiting, and ha did that without being pressed.

- ’William Riddell deposed: lam a blacksmith. I wns with the deceased when he was drowned last ingni, i have heard wimi i-Jit? uluur witucs;>ea said, and it is quite correct, except about the time deceased was in the water. He must have been there abont a quarter of an hour. He tried to speak while he was struggling. I saw his lips move, and I heard a sound winch seemed sometiling like inv name. I The Coroner said it v.as for the jury to consider whether they would have the evidence of the medical man who attended the deceased. He (the Coroner) was on the spot soon after, and perhaps what he could tell them of the matter would he sufficient. There was no doubt that everything possible had been done to save the deceased, and had foiled. As a last resource, an incision had been made in the windpipe, and the nozzle of a pair of bellows introduced, to produce artificial respiration. This had been known to succeed where every other means had foiled, but this time it had uo effect. The jury would have no difficulty in determining upon their verdict. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned.” j