CORONER'S INQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 88, 11 September 1852, Page 7

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Barracks on Saturday last before the Coroner and twelve ..Jurymen, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of Joseph Denhauij Nurseryrhan, of Lytteltoiij who was found dead the preceding day on the Bridle path leading to the, ferry. ; The proceedings^ were adjourned to Tuesday,''and thence, owing to the absence of a witness, to Thursday.'

' "John Martin, sworn, said that on Thursday evening at about 8 o.'clocV, the cries of a man: as if intoxicated were heard at my house; after some time I cooed to him, and he answered. I then went with a man to his assistance and we lifted him up, one on each side, and he walked about three paces. He said he wanted to get to my house, and we offered to help him, but he requested us to let him lie down for half an hour. He smelt of brandy, and I considered him to be drunk, as he smiled like a drunken man when we lifted him up. The spot is about half a mile from my house. We left him as he desired between two stones to prevent his falling, and requested him to call out should he want assistance. The next day at 2 o'clock, on going into Lyttelton, I looked at the place where we left him; he was not there, but I discovered him a short distance off; he was dead, lying on his back. I asked Mr. Howard, who passed at six o'clock in the morning, and also another man about 9, if they had seen him, but they had not. Some man passed toy house after I left him the previous night, and I concluded it was> the. man I had left— deceased made "no complaints to me of his legs or. anything else. I did not consider him in any danger or I should not have leftdrim;1 Frank Slee, sworn, said I met the deceased on the top of the bridle-path ; he said he was tired, and had left a basket of seeds behind a rock, half way down the path; he appeared as if he had been drinking; it was about five o'clock ; he had not fallen, and: walked steady ; I judged him to be drunk from his being gayer than usual, and red in the face.

James* Hare, sworn, said in coming from Christehurch I met deceased who was leaning on a stick: he complained of the badness of the road, and of the difficulty of walking over the hill. I thought him intoxicated as he spoke incoherently. He remained standing till I lost sight of him: about five minutes after I heard him shout, but not like a cry of pain. I talked with him for five minutes: he swayed to and fro and spoke thick: he did not ask for assistance.

Charles Martin, sworn, met deceased at about 4 o'clock: he was proceeding towards the bridle path from his garden : he was quite reasonable and sober, and was carrying a basket on his shoulders: his speech was quite clear and not thick at all. Henry Miller, constable, sworn, said on Thursday evening, at half-past eight, Frost told me there was a man lying on the other side of the bridle path in a dying state. I reported it to Mr. Godley, who directed me to go with another Constable in search of the man. I went with Kerridge, and we took a bull's-eye lantern : at the top of the bridle path we commenced searching, and shouted frequently: we went considerably below the sharp angle, as far aswhere the short cut joins the road again. We left Lyttelton shortly after nine and returned about twenty minuUs to eleven. I was sent to fetch the body, and it was found only a few feet from the road; if there had been any groaning we should have heard it. When going up the hill, we met Mr. Clement, who said he had seen a drunken man who called to him for help, but he only laughed as the man was so drunk, and from this we thought the man must have gone on, or would not have come away without him. William Frost, sworn, said on Thursday evening I called at Martin's, who said there were

cries of distress on the hill, and asked me to hurry up and give assistance. I hurried on and met a man, and asked him who it was who shouted—he replied I neither know nor care. A little further on I found a man lying down, who said he was done, and could not move his legs, and that a fit had come on him. I placed him in an easy position, and promised to send assistance: he begged me to remain, but I told him that would do no good. I met a policeman, near the Mitre, I told him there was a man lying on the other side of the bridle path, who had lost the use of his limbs, and was quite unable to assist himself: he promised assistance. I did not think deceased tipsy; he was quite reasonable. When I tried to assist him, he said it- was quite useless. The night was excessively dark and rainy. Martin did not accompany me. I came into Port as quickly as I could. I think it impossible the police could have missed him. I staid witb deceased a quarter of an hour. Charles Clements, sworn, said on coming up the bridle path I heard a man groaning : I called to him, he answered, but I did not comprehend his reply ; it seemed an answer in anger. They told me at Martin's there was a drunken man on the path, and that they had tried to get him down but could not. I met the police this side the hill, near the top, who asked if I had seen a man in a fit; I replied there was a man whom I thought was drunk, I had spoken to him but he only groaned in reply. The police went on. The night was very dark, and I could not see the deceased.

Thomas McCheane, sworn, I am a medical practitioner, and made a post mortem examination of the body. 1 judge that the deceased having taken no food became exhausted after getting up the hill, and, I suppose, fainted, and the weather prevented his recovery. I feel confident he had taken no spirits, and had been without food for some hours. I think from the appearance of the body, and from the evidence I have heard, that had he been taken to a house and attended to, his life might have been preserved. Jacob Barnett, sworn, said I was in company with Martin when he went to look for deceased ; he seemed very ill, and his legs useless, but we thought him tipsy. We got him on a little way, and he mentioned his name; we remained a quarter of an hour, and thinking him drunk, and that an hour or so would bring him to, we left him. Two of us could not have got him down. The next day I saw him dead a few yards from where we left him. I do not know whether Martin or I proposed leaving him ; we left him together. Geo-ge Kerridge, Policeman, corroborated his comrade, Miller's, evidence. Two or three of the witnesses were re-examined, but nothing material was elicited. The Coroner summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict that " Joseph Denham by exposure to the inclemency of the weather languished and died in a natural way and not otherwise," and added, " We, the Jurors, wish to be attached to our verdict that we feel fully convinced the police on duty did not use due diligence in their search on being warned as to his situation." On behalf of the Jury, (Signed) Edward Genet, Foreman.