INQUEST.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 48, 30 July 1877, Page 2

INQUEST.

The proceedings of the Coroner's inquest upon the body of Walter Reid, at Ahaura, wore conclu&d at a late hour on Saturday. Evidence as to the material circumstances of the case occupied the previous day, when the hearing was adjourned, to allow of a. post mortem examination being made by Dr P. Smith, of Greyraouth. The jury returned a verdict of " death from alcoholic poisoning," in accordance with the medical testimony and that of other witnesses, who deposed to the tact of the deceased having for many days been in a state of intoxication, and on the last day of his life utterly prostrate after a draught of a pint and a-hnlf of raw spirit. They added, by way of a rider, their complete exoneration from blame of the police in charge of the lock-up, with a recommendation that the Government should issue a fresh code of rules for the guidance of gaolers in the treatment of drunk and incapable prisoners. It transpired during the course of the inquest tbat upon arrest such prisoners were laid upon the floor of a cell, their heads being placed upon a pillow, but without blanket covering until bed-time, when, as in this particular instauce, they were placed in a lnmk on matlrasscs and covored with blankets

Dr Smith's evidence went to show that deceased's condition must have resulted in death under the most skilful medical treatment, and was in no way attributable to cold. He described the cell in which deceased wa* confined to be one of the warmest and most comfortable he had ever seen. The jury wished to express their sense of indignation at the unfounded and cruel aspersions that had been publicly made upon the conduct of the ihaura police, which upon the evidenco proved to be totally unwarranted.