INQUEST.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 102, 2 October 1878, Page 2

INQUEST.

Dr. Rockstrow, the Coroner for the District, held an inquest m the Court-house, Palmerston, on Saturday,^., the body of M»tn Jacobson, a ihild of two years of age, who was drowned on the prerious day, by falling into a well. The jury (of which Mr tfeorge Snelson was chosen foreman), having viewed the body, the followiog evidence was taken : — Johan Jacobson, sworn, deposed : I am. the father of the deceased child, a carpenter bf tr»de, residing m Palmerston. I last saw the child alive about five o'clock m the afternoon, a quarter of an hour before it was found m the well. He was playing about the yard, about tan yards distance from the well. It is always covered orer with boards lying closely on top. The deceased was two years old last. March. I suppose he must have lifted the cover off, being very strong, as otherwise he oould not have one. through. To the Foreman : Ido not know of ray own knowlodge whether tho cover fitted loosely or tight. To the Coroner : I was the first to see the body m the well. My wife was looking for the boy, and she cried out that the cover:, was off, and' that induced me to look down. The child was dead when it was taken out. Thomas King, disposed : lam a storekeeper at Palmerston. Between half-past four and five; on the evening of the 27th, Constable Gillespie was passing my door, and just at that time there was soms one screaming. He said there must be something wrong. I went to get my hat, and while m the act of doing so; Mrs Walton told me there was a child m the well. I immediately went for the ladder, which stands m the store, brought it to the well, put it down, and Mr Venn descended, and brought up the body. The child was dead when it was taken out. The property upon which the well is, belongs to Mr Peter Manson. To a Juror: Tho constable and Mr Venn made all efforts to restore animation, and Mr Leary, chemist, and Dr. Akers were sent for. Richard Leary. deposed : I am a chemist residing m Palmerston. At half- past four m the afternoon of the 27th, Mr Locke asked me to see a child, which had fallen down a well. I went nt once, at the same time advising that Dr. Akers should be sent for, and saw a child lying on the grass, and several person trying to restore animation. The surface of the body was quite cold and under the arm pits ; the lips were livid j the action of the heart and lungs had ceased. I considered the child dead, but had it placed before a large fire, the clothes stripped off, and a warm friction applied with blankets to the limbs. I practised artificial respiration, and while so employed Dr. Akers came and took charge" of the case. At his suggestion I tried galranism, but did not succeed m restoring animation. This was all the evidence brought for; ward, and the Coroner having briefly sumoned up, the Jury, after a few moments' deliberation, returned the following verdict : " That Mata Fritzof Jacobson met his death on the 27th September, by accidental drowning iv a well near his father's residence, Palmerston. A