INQUEST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 862, 9 November 1870, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at ihe Commercial Hotel, Port Ahuriri, at 10 o'clock this morning, before T. Hitchings. Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr John Mabbett was chosen foreman, upon the body of Peter Johnson, then and there lying dead. The following was the evidence adduced :

John Charles, sworn, deposed • —T am an. hotel-keeper, and landlord of the Commercial Hotel. I knew the deceased, who was a Swede. He was in my em ploy as a waiter, and had been with me between 10 and 11 weeks. During that time, his health, as far as I know, was good ; at all events, I never heai-d him complain, ai)d he always did his work regularly ; he was never laid up during the time he was in service with me; 1 occasionally saw him put his hand to. ]iis heart, but as he never complained of any pain, I. used to take no notice of the circumstance, I saw the deceased yesterday morning, about 8 oVlock ; he seemed .in his usual health, and rather lively. We generally breakfast about 8 o'clock; deceased waited at table as usual yesterday morning, and I believe cleared away the things after the meal was over. About 8.45 I was about ordering mv own breakfast when a servant girl in my employ came and told me that Peter [the deceased] was not well. I immediately went to him, an.d found him lying on the kitchen floor. He appeared ro me to be in a fit. I spoke to him, and he for a drink of water, which was given to him, Seeing that he looked very bad, I fent a young man named Weare for Dr. Spencer; but as that gentleman had nqt arrived a short time afterward.*, and I saw Dr. Russell passing, T called him in. I was not with deceased when he di( $.

Nicholas Paul, sworn, deposed ; —J ani cook at Mr Charles' Commercial Hotel. I have known the deceased for about 10 weeks. I never heard hirn complain of any disease. I saw the deceased yesterday morning, both before and dining breakfast. After I he meal he cleared away the things as usual. About 9 o'clock I saw him stirring something in a cup. J said to him, '-' Peter, come on; aie you going to have breakfast? 1 ' He said, "No, thank you ; J am going to take some salts." .1 sa*' him drink the contents of the cup, and immediately afterwards he began to vomit. I said " Take a little sugar," which he did, and then went outside and began vomiting again. He very soon came in again, sat down on a chair, and asked for tea, which he afterwards refused. In a minute or so he jumped up, exclaiming, "Hold me, Nicholas; I am falling—l am dying." I took hold of him and put back him in the chair, and at his request poured water over his head. He then fell on the floor, and complained of a burning in his stomach. He kept calling for water, which I offered, but he could not drink. I should say about 10 minutes elapsed between the time ue fell ov, the floor and his death. I never saw him take any medicine. I tasted some of what he had drank, and thought it something like alum. I oiten heard deceased wish himself dead, and say that he prayed to

God that when he went to sleep at night he might never wake up. This being all the evidence, the jury found a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God."