SUDDEN DEATH.—CORONER’S INQUEST.

Kumara Times, Issue 2794, 4 September 1885, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH.—CORONER’S INQUEST.

An inquiry touching the death of John M‘Caffery, miner and carpenter, who was found lying on the Dillman’s Town road on Wednesday evening last, was held this morning, at the Metropolitan Hotel, by Dr. Giles, and a jury of thirteen (composed of the following) : James S. Benyon (foreman), Thomas Lewis, Charles F. Holmes, Henry Fitzsimons, James Rugg, Samuel Wilkinson, David Williams, Otto W. Anderson, John Schulstad, Henry Gibson, Bazile Breraond, Louis Ziegler, and William Wiesner.

After having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken. Charles M‘Keegan, sworn, said : I am a carter, living on the Dillman’s Town road. I knew the deceased John M‘Caffery by sight. The last time I saw him was on Wednesday, the 2nd instant, between half-past six and seven o’clock in the evening. I saw him lying on the side of the Dillman’s Town road, near Mrs O’Brien’s house; he was lying on his back. I went up to him and took him by the hand, and shook him. Finding there was no movement and he took no notice of me, I went to Mr Moore’s place close by. I told Moore I believed the man was dead. Moore came out, and shook him and called him by his name several times. The man took no notice of Moore. Mrs O’Brien was standing at her door, and we picked the man up and carried him into her house, and put him on the sofa. I then went to give information to Sergeant Russell, at the Police Camp. I went back with Constable Williams and Dr. Davy. Dr. Davy pronounced the man to be dead. I left the place then. Deceased never spoke, from the time I saw him. There was a gurgling noise came from the throat. Lawrence Moore, sworn, said : I am a miner, living at the top end of Seddon street. I knew the deceased, John M‘Caffery. I have known him for the last six or seven years, from seeing him walking about. The last time I saw him alive was on Sunday, at the back of Mrs Pett’s, or Mrs O’Brien’s (whichever it is.) I last saw him on Wednesday evening, when I was called by Charles M‘Keegan, jun. I went and saw where he was laying, which was alongside of Mrs O’Brien’s house, in front of the house, with his feet towards the door. I put my hand on him, and said “Old man, get up.” I did not know whether he was alive or dead. Mrs O’Brien came to the door. I asked how it was M‘Caffery was lying here. She replied “He had had some beer.” I said “This is no place for him to lie.” We then took him inside Mrs O’Brien’s place, and put him on the sofa. I stayed about there till the last witness came back with the police and doctor. I did not during that time see any signs of life in deceased. That is all I know. His feet were towards the door, and the body alongside the weatherboards. My house is next door but one to Mrs O’Brien’s.

By a Juryman ; I have no suspicion of foul play except that about half-an-hour before Mr M‘Keegan called me I heard deceased’s voice in Mrs O’Brien’s house ; he and Mrs O’Brien were talking very loud ; they appeared to be quarreling. ■Deceased said “Lot mo go, you thundering whore ! ” I did not hear her voice. Deceased had been in the habit of living in Mrs O’Brien’s house. I did not hear any sounds as of scudling or violence.

Louisa Pett, sworn, said: I am the

person who has been referred to as Mrs O’Brien by other witnesses. I live on the Dilhnan’s Town road. I knew the deceased John M'Caffery : lie lived at my house sometimes. He was there on Wednesday last; he had been staying there at nights, habitually some time previously to that day. He was brought into my house last Wednesday evening by the two previous witnesses. He had left my house about three-quarters of an hour before M‘Keegan and Moore brought him in. He might have been in the house about an hour before he went out. We had a few words about my son. He used abusive language towards me. I advised him to go home as I could not bear him talking; I said “For God’s sake, go home.” When he came in he found fault with the boiling of a leg of beef, and he took it off the fire, and threw it into the back room. There were no blows or violence used on either side. He was sitting on the corner of the sofa before he went out. Before the row commenced he had been complaining of a, what he called water-brash, coming up in his throat. The day before, he went out for a log of wood, put it on the fire, and seemed very much over-exerted by it, the perspiration dropping from him. He had often complained of heart disease—-water-brash he called it. 1 did not hear him fall.

By a juryman : He left my house of his own accord. I advised him not to attempt to cross the dam. Thomas George Davy, sworn, said : I am a registered medical practitioner, residing at Kumara, I was called for on Wednesday evening by policeman Williams, who said there was a man dying on the Dillraan’s Town road, at the house of Louisa Pett. I should say he must have been dead twenty or thirty minutes ; less than an hour. I had not the least idea then what the cause of death was; there were no external marks of any sort to indicate violence. I yesterday made an examination of the body, which was fairly well nourished. It had no external marks, except two old scars on the right side. All the organs were healthy, except the heart and lungs. The right side of the heart was dilated ; the left lung exhibited chronic bronchitis and and emphysema. The base of the right lung had extensive adhesion to the pleura, and showed very great and recent congestion. There was also chronic bronchitis. The ribs were ossified. Deceased was constitutionally more aged than usual at his years, which, I understand, was about GG. I consider deceased to have been suffering from bronchial asthma, and the effects of congestion of the lungs, and I think he died from syncope, produced by over-work and failure of the action of the heart. I have no doubt death occurred in a purely natural way, from natural causes.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, that the death of John M‘Caffery, on Wednesday, 2nd September, resulted from natural causes, viz., syncope, arising from chronic bronchitis and congestion of the lungs.