INQUEST.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 85, 22 October 1879, Page 3

INQUEST.

An enquiry touching the. death of George: Mitchell was held at Roe's Ddubigh Mofe\ on Monday afternoon, beffire^ D. H. Macarthur, Esq., J.P., and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr. S,. Rowley was chosen foreman. The jury having viewed tbe body, the following evidence was taken : — . Joseph M'Convi'le deposed : lam a laborer, residing at . Cheltenham. I have known deceased for more than twelve months. I was m company with the deceased on Saturday night. I parted with him between ten aud eleven o'clock. That was the last time Tsaw him alive. He was complaining then of the pain m his chest 'from which he has been suffering for months. He was quite sober at that time. I parted with him at the Cheltenham HoteU ...■'■■ Laura Stuart deposed : I am a domestic servant at the Cheltenham Hotel. I saw deceased to his room on Saturday- night last, about half-past ten . o'clock. Deceased was sober. I was called up about twenty .minutes to two o'clock by Mr. W. Anderson, who requested me to get some mustard for a mustard- poultice for deceased. Deceased complained of a pain m his chest, and said he \vas very bad, but did not think. there was gomg to bo tnat humbug. I went back to bed again about three o'clock. I did not see deceased again alive. To the Foreman. — My attention was drawn to deceased's room by Mr. W. Anderson's request for mustard. To. a Juror. — Deceased received all tli^e attention he required on that occasion. William Anderson deposed : I am a fcarpenter", residing at Napier. I was at the Cbeltenham Hotel, Kiwitea, on the7night of Saturday, the 18th inst. I wras sleeping m the next room to that. * occupied by the deceased, to whom my attention was called by a severe fit of coughing he was having. This would .be. about one o'clock. ' I got up and •went into his room with a light. Deceased was sitting on his bed vomiting. I sat with him for a little while .[and then awoke Mrs. Stuart, who made ' a mustard blister, which I pu.t on. bis chest. I sat with him about an hour ,aii.d. a half* Vhen he" said he felt much, easier,' an.d X W^nt back to b.ed about half- past three o'clock. I advised l\im to see a doctor, and he said thai if spared till mp.rning he would do. so, adding, '-'-This Cheltenham has cooked my goose." I went into his. room next morning to see how he \i*as, and found him dead. It would be about seven o'clock. To a juror.— Deceased stated, to. me that he had been taking medicine for his complaint. Had there been any disturbance, or. f;oui-play I should bave heard it.. The. matter yo mitted by deceased waa frothy. Louis t^ees disposed. — I am a sawmill contractor, residing at Cheltenham. Deceased was m my employ. I have brought medicine from Palmerston for deceased, for complaint of. the chest. I described^ bis. symptoms to, the chemist, Mr, Leary, of Paim.e.r«ton, who made up a _ liniment! I did not' see deceased, '■ alter baturday morning Jastjuntil I siyy him on uuday. dead. X ; : To a juror. — I only . brought ty m one bottle, but, he- -has to. my knowledge been ta,kingymedirin.e. far the. I'&st four months for tin's complaint. He used j to take chlorodyne, and using porousl pUsteiv ' * ' i

Daniel Johnston deposed : lam a duly-qualified medical practitioner, residing at Feilding. I have made a post mortem examination of the body, and found it, as a whele, fairly nourished. Qn Opening the chest I found extensive inflammation of tbe lining membrane, especially of that portion over the region of tbe heart, and also of the membrane surrounding the heart, and also of the heart itself. The inflammation has been chronic. There was considerable effusion of serum into the cavity between the pericardium and the heart itself. Both lungs were congested, and there was great effusion of serum into the chest. These appearances were quite sufficient to have caused death suddenly. I believe that the cause of death was inflammation of the pericarditis combined with effusion of serum into the cavity between the heart and pericardium. The ' jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes," m ac^ cordance with the medical evidence.