LATE JOHN BRANKIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17690, 30 July 1919, Page 3

LATE JOHN BRANKIN

[VERDICT OF DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE. Tho ad jaunted inquest touching- the death of John Joseph Brankin, who was found lying dead on tho side of the Wakanui road, about half a, mile from his own home about 2.30 a.m. on July ll f was held at Ashburton on Saturday, before Mr James Cow (District Coroner) A. Fitzgerald, a contractor, living in Ashburton, gave evidence that he last saw deceased alive about 15 minutes after midnight on the night of July 10. He had previously been with him about 11 ■ p.m., and had helped him to yoke his horse in a gig, at Lewis's stables. Brankin drove witness and Ms brother to their gate, in "Wilis street, where they stood talking till, about 12.15. Brankin then left for his home, an the Wakanui road, and he should have reached there at the latest by 1 a.m. Deceased was absolutely sober. Brankin was driving a four-year-old horse, find the liorso was iidgety. Deceased had been into Ashburton to attend a presentation, and witness was first with him about 10 p.m. in the Working Men's Club. Senior Sergeant Ryan stated that he spoke to Brankin about 10 p. m., and there Was no sign that he had had any drink at all. Witness visited the scene of tho accident the next morning, and saw where a body had lain on tho side of the road, and there was a small pool G f blood; The body had apparently been dragged. There ■were no marks of violence on tho body when witness saw it, but there was a small scratch on the face. The left boot was slightly torn at the ankle, a part of tho clothing wa3 a littls soiled, and deceased's cap, with blood on it, was found in the »body of the gig. It appeared quite evident that the body had been dragged after deceased was out of tho trap, and this might have been caused by the horse moving on w-hen deceased was leaning against ... £' I °; On tho 13th .instant witness visited the scene of the accident, again and saw some little way up the road, signs ol where tho same gig and a horse had been standing, and from the wheel marks it was evident that the horse had been festive I here was evidence given of a man having been seen m the locality where the bodv was found, and the cap left in the gig with a bloodstain on it left no doubt that this particular man had been in Brankin's company. On July 11 witness took possession of a sealed jar containing the stomach of deceased and sent it to Mr A. A Bicker ten,\ the Government analyst, who subsequently reported that he had found a little alcohol present in the stomach. Lax™ of,t ta jraJk the stomach were mllamed, and the appearance was in his opinion, consistent with the effects of ali i .J: . w ? 3 no substance other than alcohol that would cause death or aocount id; tne 3 nil animation. A lad named Brown, who had given evidence at tho preliminary inquiry to the offeci that he identified the man seen on the road when tho man addressed him as Brownie and asked him if he was looking for Jaok Brankin, was recalled, and was asked he saw him. Witness replied ies. H e was then asked to look roimd tho oourt and see If tho man was there 1? at ,? nco replied, " Yes, there ho is, over there, at the same time pointing- to Gorman Stephens. Norman Stephens, blaoksmitli Ashbur"i his evidence he slated that he had been playing i n a football ni.itcli on the afternoon of Julv 10 Ho went straight from the football match his own home about 5 p.m., and after having his tea he retired to bed about 8 p.m., and did not leavo his house till about--8 o clock the following morning. Uo was tired after tho football niatoh, and went to sleep shortly after going to bed. Ho had tea with his wifo and children and two visitors. On being pressed by tho coroner, witness swore positively that he was not out of his house that night after ho first went homo. . yon, who had made a post-mortem examination, evidence to tho cft'oet that he found no marks of any sort indicating violence, and there was only a small scratch on deceased's face. There was nothing abnormal to be found with any of tho organs, except that the aortic valves of the heart were elightlv diseased, and this diseased ' oondiiion of" the heart might have caused sudden death, and was consistent with tho evidence which had been given by Miss Brankin at the preliminary inquest, that her brother, since the ao3ident_ ho mot with on the Metropolitan trotting ground =about a year ago, had frequently complained of pains about the heart. •"V v £ rt^c t was returned in accordance with the medical evidence, that tho cause of death was heart disease. The Coroner expressed his strong disapp-oyal at the man who had been secin in tho rood not coming forward and helping to clear up what was a very mysterious case. 'J'he Coroner further added that ho was perfectly satisfied that the witness 'Stephens was not the man _who had been seen on the rond at tho time tho body of Brankin was found. "Foresight is tho weapon of tho wise."— f. tanus. And a most fortunate weapon it is these • cold, chilly days. If foresight has induced you to have on your shelf a bottle of BAXTER'S I,UNO PRESERVER, you • are proof against the "Bogeys of winter." 2s 6d buys big bottle.—Advt.