CORONER’S INQUEST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5182, 31 October 1877, Page 3

CORONER’S INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Thistle Hotel yesterday before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Eredk. Luhning was foreman, touching the death of Robert Lambert, an old and highly respected settler, who died suddenly on the 27th inst. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said the deceased was an old colonist whom he had known many years, and who was probably known to many of the jury. He was a single man, living a solitary life; hut was of a cheerful, active disposition. His character was a most exemplary one. He was ever ready to do good aud to promote peace and reconcile quarrels amongst his neighbors. He was accustomed to spend much of his time in working in his garden, and had been so employed up to within a short time of his death. There was no doubt he died from natural causes; but iu all cases of sudden death, where no medical man had been in attendance, it was customary to hold au inquest, and for that reason the jury had been called together. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : Dr, Diver deposed: I knew deceased, Robert Lambert. I had not seen him for some time previous to his death. On Saturday evening about 9 o’clock I was called to see the deceased, and went to his residence immediately. I found him dead. He was lying underneath his bed. The body was cold, and deceased had apparently been dead some hours. I made a post mortem-examination of the body ; to-day. There were no external marks ol vio-' lence. The body was healthy. On opening the head the surface of the brain was found to be much congested, and in the left ventricle was an immense clot of blood, four or five inches in length. There was also a large elot of blood deposited in the left ventricle of the heart. The cause of death was softening of the brain, producing apoplexy. Leonard Dixon deposed : I am a cab proprietor, living near deceased’s house. I have known him several years, and last saw him alive, about 11 o’clock on Saturday, when he was trimming the fence near his gate. He appeared in his usual health. He was in the habit of getting rue to send him a newspaper every evening, and on Saturday evening my little girl went to his house for the purpnae, but the blinds were down, and she thought he was out. About 0 o’clock I went over to his house, and found him lying dead on the floor. Mr. Mowbray and. Mr. Osborne were with me. The body was quite cold, and life had apparently been extinct for some hours. Information was given to the police, and Dr. Diver, who was sent for, came soon afterwards. Deceased was very temperate in his habits. He was unmarried, and lived quite alone. The jury, under the direction of the coroner, returned a verdict of death from natural causes, to wit, apoplexy.