LOCAL NEWS.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 49, 8 December 1860, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Coroner’s Inquest. —An inquest was held before S. L. Muller, Esq., coroner, at the house of John Fraser, Waihopai, on the sth instant, on view of the body of James Cooper, who was found dead on Tuesday morning last. It appeared from the evidence that deceased was of a cheerful disposition, and there had been nothing in his previous conduct to lead to any supposition that he would destroy himself. lie had been staying at the house occupied by John Maxwell, for several days, and was to have gone out mustering for Mr. Fraser, in whose employ he had been for 18 months, on the day before his death; but complained of being unwell. Early on Tuesday morning the deceased left Maxwell’s house, and in about ten minutes afterwards the firing of a gun was heard ; but nothing wrong was suspected. About half-past seven, deceased’s dog was heard to bark, and Margaret Maxwell went out to see if deceased was gone, and found him lying dead near the door; he having been shot. Deceased had had no quarrel with any one on the station. He was not a quarrelsome man. Dr. Horne, on being sworn said: “There is a wound in the roof of the mouth, on the right side, the upper jaw is much shattered, and one of the incisor teeth on the right side is gone. I passed the probe through the wound in the upper jaw past the nose on the right side, and at the back of the right eye, until I reached the skull; there was nothing to obstruct the passage of the probe; I could not detect anything like a bullet. I could not see whether the wound was caused by a bullet or by shot; the muzzle of the gun must have been inside the lips, and wounds caused by bullet or shot would have been much alike. From the position of the wound, I consider it must have been his own act. His death must have been instantaneous.” The Jury returned ' the following verdict: —“ That deceased des-

troyed himself with'airifle j but whethio in sound state of mind or, labouring under insanity, there is not sufficient evidence before the jury to show.” Shipping. —The Alert, from Wellington arrived at the Boulder Bank last Monday, and sailed for Wellington yesterday. The City of Nelson, from Nelson, arrived at Blenheim on Tuesday, and sailed for Nelson on Thursday. The Wonga Wonga is now in Picton, having brought some excursionists from Wellington, and is advertised to sail on Sunday (to morrow) for Wellington.