CORONER'S INQUEST.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 403, 9 December 1876, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held af the Commercial Hotel, Masehy, on Saturday, December 2, ou view of the body of Duncan Chishnlm, before H. W. fiobitison. Esq.. K.M., District Coroner, and a special jury. Mr. E. Horswell was chosen foreman.

George Parraonfer, police constable, deposed that he went, by ins!ructions, to Serpentine to look afr.er a man reported to be in a dangerous state. He found that (lie man lay at, the hut of one Faulkner, about niue miles from Serpenliue township. On Thursday, the 30th, he procured a spring cart, and succeeded in taking it. over the ranges to within a quarter of a mile of the hut. On reaching the hut he found the man delirious, and was informed that he had been brought as far as Faulkner's on his way to Serpentine several days previ-.usly, 'but that it had not. been possible to take him farther, so he had to be taken in. The constable then procured a piece of carpet, upon which, with assistance, he managed to carry the patient to the spring cart ""across a deep gully. He then made his way over the ranges in the direction of the Black Ball, having made the patient—who was all the time unconscious as comfortable as he could with hay and blankets. They were caught in a severe thunderstorm, but every precaution was taken to protect the man ii; the cart. When, within about three miles of the Black Ball the horse gave in, and a nvui had to be sent forward to procure another conveyance. This was af. Jast obtained, and at eleven o'clock on Thursday night, the Blackball was reached, the dis tance travelled being more" than sixteen "iles, across mountains, with no.track. The man was at o ce put to bed, and a little maizeim administered v\iih difficulty. On the next day he seemed n little stronger, and, a man being obtained to drive a pair-horse env yance, a fair start wiis made for Naseby ; but when they got a few miles past (he Sowbum the man ceased raving and began to moan, and it new became apparent that he was in a dyimr state. A push was then mad* to reach A hues' Hotel, where it was hoped he might lu-revived a little; but before reachuui there he expired. The constable then rode in to give information, taavinv the driver to bring in the vehicle with the body. Simon Stevenson,.a laborer in the employ of Mr. Turnbull, ot Linbuxn Station, who drove from the Black Ball, gave corroborative evidence.

Dr. Whit.ton deposed that he had met

the vehicle on its arrival in Naseby, when the man was evidently recently dend. He had made a post mortem eramination, but had found no external marks of violence. The body had the appearance of being that of a strong man, who had suffered a severe illness. The heart was healthy, but both lungs were completely soaked blood, and contracted, the result of inflammation. The brain also was congested. Death had been caused by inflammation of the lungs, and the case must have been hopeless from at least three days previous to death. The exposure and jolting of the removal were, of course, bad for the patient, but his death would certainly have occurred about the same time if no attempt had been made to remove him.

A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.

The deceased seemed to be about thirtyfive, and was a tall man, about six feet high. The constable had been supplied by Dr. Whitton with restorative medicine, to be given from time to time on the road. Nothing is known of Chisholm but that he had been mining in the neighborhood for about twelve months.