CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 150, 6 November 1847, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Wednesday last, an inquest was held at the Victoria Hotel, Fort-street, before the Coroner, Dr. Johnson, and a Jury of twelve inhabitants, (Mr. D. Graham, foreman), on view of the body of Johanna Coleman, then and there lying dead. The inquest was convened at a few minutes after 1 1 o'clock in the forenoon. William Colemixn t the husband of the deceased, was in custody of the Police, and present at the pioceedings. After viewing the body, which lay in an adjoining out-house, the jury re -assembled, and the witnesses were successively called in and examined. John Reid sworn. — I am a midshipman, belonging to the ship Sir Robert Sale, now in this harbour. On Saturday evening last, I was in charge of the ship's boat at Soldier's Point, for the purpose of bringing off the Pensioners who were on shore. I knew the deceased by sight 3 I observed her and her husband coming down towards the beach ; William Coleman was holding deceased by the arm j I did not much notice them at the time, as they appeared in liquor ; I observed that her husband let go deceased's arm; she went on a few paces, and then fell over a rock about 4 feet high, on a more levelpart of the beach j she lay there 3or 4 minutes ; I saw her husband push her into the water twice or three times ; the water was shallow ; the second or third time he fell into the water himself; he then left her : I desired Gonway, a pensioner, to go to her assistance ; whether from the fall, or effects of drink, I cannot say, she appeared insensible ; she was assisted into the boat, and eventually carried on board, and hoisted up in a chair ; her husband was rather intoxicated ; when he fell over her into the water, it was from a stumble, and uot inteutioual.

% Francis Conway called in and sworn. — I am a private in the Royal New Zealand Fencibles. On the evening of Saturday last, I went down toward Soldier's Point, to join the boat waiting there to cairy us on board the Sir Robert Sale. I saw the deceased, Johanna Coleman, lying on the beach ; I heard her husband tell her several < times to get op ; she made tome answer, which I did not distinctly hear ; I saw her husband push her into the water, but very easily, after telling her she deserved to be ducked for getting drunk, or words to that effect j the water was quite shallow — not more than a few inches deep ; I did not see her husband fall over her ; nobody told me to pick her up. (Here the Coroner cautioned the witness to be careful, and desctibe in a true and straightforward manner what he saw, as if he found the witness prevaricating, it was in his power, and it would be his duty to commit him. The examination was then resumed.). I drew her out of the water with assistance; her husband came and pushed her in again ; Henry Simms assisted me in lifting her out ; she was got into the boat ; when put in the boat, she fell on her back or side, I cannot say which, it being dark; I did not hear her speak in the boat; 1 saw her afterwards on Monday night, in the hospital, on board the Sir Robert Sale; she complained to me that her husband had put his foot on her stomach j I said he did not ; I never saw him put his foot on her ; at the time of these transactions at Soldier's Point, it was rather dark, and objects could not be distinctly seen. Henry Simms. — I am the son of a pensioner. I was at Soldier's Point on the evening of the 30th tilt. ; 1 saw deceased, who was intoxicated, fall from a rock a depth of four feet on to the beach, on her head violently, as I could hear the sound, although several yards off; she sat up, placed her hand under her chin, and began to cry ; her husband jumped down and asked her whether she was coming on board, or what she intended to do; she said she would not go on board; he then caught her by the arm, and pnshed her into the water ; he was the worse of liquor ; Conway lifted her out of the water, and placed her on the beach ; a few minutes after Goleman returned, and asked her again if she would go on board; she said, she would not ; he then pushed her a second time into the water ; Conway again got heroiil; I induced Coleman to go to the end of the wharf with me, saying I wanted to speak Jo him j he returned to where deceased was, and asked her again to go into the boat; she said, she would not for him or any other person ; he then gave her a light push with his foot, and asked her if she would go on board ; she still refused ; he then again pushed her into the water, and told her to stop there ; Conway helped her up, and I went to her and asked her to go on board, which she consented to do for me ; she then proceeded feebly to the boat, leaning between Conway and me, her husband following with her bonnet ; she did not complain to me of any hurt, but only asked where her bonnet was ; I called on a sailor, named OHara, to help us to get her into the boat, which he did ; when in, she fell on her side on the edge of the boat, but not with violence; I saw her hoisted up the ship's side in a chair ; she was carried down to her berth ; her clothes were very wet ; I did not hear her complain of cold ; the last time Coleman pushed her, her side face and shoulder were in the water ; she cried out, "Oh !" I did not see her again alive. Michael Goes, called in and examined.— l am hospital orderly on board the Sir Robert Sale. On Sunday morning last, Johanna Coleman sent for me ; she said she felt very ill, and I informed the surgeon, The Coroner said there was no use in calling evidence of this description. What the last witness had to say, could be proved by the surgeon, The only witnesses wanting weie those who could speak to material facts, and what the deceased might have said respecting her injuries. Alexander McDonald. — 1 am Captain of the company of Royal N. Z. Fencibles on board the Sir Robert Sale. On Monday evening last, the deceased sent for me. I went to the Hospital where she was. Before she spoke, I reproached lier with [having been drunk. I told her I had heard her husband had ill used her, and that 1 had made a prisoner of him in consequence. She besought me for the sake of Almighty God not to do anything to her husband, for he had not touched her, nor done her any hurt, and she begged of me to send for a Priest, as she found herself in a dying stale, which request i complied with. 1 have long known William Coleman, I consider him one of the best men in the company, and I selected him for trustworthy duties from bis orderly habits. His wife and he I always thought lived on good terms, and 1 have] heard the same from others. John Dean Lancaster.— l am Surgeon superintendent of the Sir Robert Sale. From the report of Goss the hospital orderly, I visited the deceased on Monday morning- 1 found her in the state of one who had been dtunk over night. I visited her afterwards and finding her extremely feeble I ordered her a stimulating draught which had the effect of somewhat reviving her. I reproached her with having been intoxicated. She said it was not so much that as that she had been illused. This was before she saw the Priest. Afterwards she became so seriously ill that I thought it advisable to call in Dr. McMahon of the Minerva. When she found herself dying she told me that her husband bad not illused her, but •he had brought it all upon herself. I was pie •ent at the post-mortem examination. There was no mark of external violence beyond a small contused mark on the left side of the chest, and a contusion of the lip. The viscera were sound. 1 am at a loss to what to attribute the immediate cause of death. It may have been occasioned by elision of the spinal marrow, bat from the absence of any material injury internally or externally, 1 cannot determine what was the cause of her decease. Dr. Ford.— l examined the body of the deceased Johanna Coleman — but could find no marks externally, nor any injuries internally to shew that she had died from the effects of violence. Here the case terminated. The Coroner summed up clearly and concisely, bringing each of the material facts adduced in evidence under the notice of the Jury.

They would see that there had been a sufficient prima facie case to warrant the detention of the husband of the deceased, but not in tbe evidence to connect him with the cause of her death. After about 10 minutes consultation with closed doors, on re-opening, the Jury pronounced their verdict that the deceased Johanna Coleman had come by her death from causes unknown. The Coroner then told the husband (William Coleraan) that he was discharged, at tbe same time forcibly admonishing him that his inebriety had placed him in a very awkward position, and hoping that the present awful lesson would operate as a warning to him in future to regulate his conduct within the bounds of temperance. It is but justice to state that Coleman has borne an excellent character as testified by hit commanding officer and other respectable persons.