STRANGE SCENE AT AN INQUEST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 65, 6 July 1876, Page 2

STRANGE SCENE AT AN INQUEST.

During last week, says a recent issue of the " Geelong Advertiser,' a strange scene occurred at an inquest held in a township not a hundred miles from Queenscliff, which will probably lead to an inquiry being held, the proceedings having been brought under the notice of the SolicitorGeneral. The inquest was on the body of a child, the corpse being laid out on a sofa in the room in which the inquiry took place, and the whole of the most unseemly proceedings would appear to have arisen from the coroner not keeping his

appointment. One of the tradesmen had been summoned as a juryman iJ the ire of the coroner by complainjj? being kept away so long from hislS. We regret no reporter was present, w! following particulars, given from 'men by a person present, will convey somej; of what transpired : The Coroner : Who is that fellow stable, who is complaining of myL late? Turn him away, Bir. I have him as a juryman ; get me fc other respectable man in his place.

The juryman, delighted at bekj easily released from an unpleasant t made tracks ; and his place having \ taken by another tradesman, the j were duly sworn and a foreman pointed. The Foreman : Before we business, I wish to know whose fault j this inquiry was not commenced at appointed time ? The Coroner: Be quiet, sir. Y olt marks are offensive. The Foreman : I do not mean then be so. I have a right to ask the quettt I wish to know whose fault it is—tit the coroner or the police. The Coroner : Your remarks ate j graceful, sir. You were removed J the list of magistrates for disgraceful, duct, and kicked out of the bob' coxmcil because of your disagreeable haviour. A Juryman (a butcher) : Really, | Coroner, I think such remarks are« uncalled for. The Coroner (excitedly) : Be quiet,] who told you to speak ? If you bep talk, I will nob buy any more meat of) The Juryman : I don't care a 1 whether you do or not. I'll sendj sheep's head and pluck to make yon some cheap broth, for that is what like. ... Tile foreman again persisted in huq tion being answered, when the con stooping, picked up his stick and ah at him, upon' which another jury chimed in, characterised the proceed as disgraceful, reminded them of serious duty they had to perform, called attention to the fact that the co appeared to be staring at them in w« Such is the brief description that has) furnished us of the proceedings.