INQUEST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1366, 9 October 1883, Page 2

INQUEST.

The inquest oh the body of Ohuriel Thdrjto, who was found dead in bed on Sunday morning last, was held yesterday afternoon, at the British Empire Hotel. The following oom- ' priced tho jury ; Henry Partington, Peter Cooper, George Banks, W Finch, John Sandv, Neil Blakely, Hill McGowan, A. Y. Rose, J. Thompson, Thoe Cotter, John Hearfleld, J. G. Henderson, and L. Clayton, Mr A. $* Rose was chosen foreman. After the jiuy were sworn. Dr Leggatt stated i I am s duly qualified medical practitioner, residing st Gisborne. I examined the body of deceased on the afternoon of October 7th, 1883. I found on opening the body that both lunge were healthy. The valves of the largo vessels of the heart were both extensively diseased, and the liver was contracted and inflamed, but all the other organs were healthy. I am of opinion that death was caused from disease of the heart and liver. There were no marks of violence on tho body of any sort. Ha had been tick in the room and the retching hod caused the heart to cease beating. I had met him in the street the day before, and he had told me he was feeling very unwell and sick In my opinion death ensued from natural c auses The disease of the heart was of long standing and the vomiting might have caused the heart to etop any time during the lust ten years.

To the jury : The disease of tho liver would A cause the sickness and that would act on the heart

George Williamson : I saw the body on Sunday. I recognised it as the body of Chas Thorpe. I was in company with the deceased at five o’clock on Saturday. I asked him to have half a pint of beer, which he did. He was perfectly sober. I saw him later on in the evening at supper with another man. Some time before his death he was complaining of pains across his chest. He could hardly get his wind. I next saw him on Sunday morning at about seven o’clock at his own house. I rapped and asked was he in, and he replied “ Yes.” Then I told him to open the door and 1 would come in. He said he had been vomiting the best part of the night. I asked him if 1 should go for a doctor, and he said “ No ’ the Doctor had told him to go to him if he got any worse.” Wh*n he let me in he was sitting on the side of the bed with a red shirt and a pair of drawers on. I asked if I could do anything for him, and he said “No.” I then left. About half past eight I saw him again. He was shifting his horse from Mr Shirley’s paddock into his own. The next time I saw him he was lying dead. That was somewhere about twelve o’clock

To the jury : Mr Taylor was the man having supper with deceased on Saturday evening. He had no money at all T. E; Shirley : I knew the deceased. He was living next door to me. I hud a conversation with him on Sunday morning about a horse he had left in my buck yard over night. I asked him to take it out before the children were about, and he did so. We spoke a little more together on the same subject. He did not then say anything about the state of hi health. I next saw him u few minutes after eleven o’clock. An old gentleman came to my house and said something was the matter with old Thorpe. 1 found him in his house lying on his bed. Ho was then dead. I examined tho body. As soon as I was satisfied that ho was dead I reported the affair to the police, and left the old man in charge of w the body. Tho police returned with me ” To the Jury : I have not heard that de-

uewed wae possessed of &ny amount of money.

Geo. Taylor i I live cn the Whataupoko Block. I know deceased. His name ia Thorpe, I went to his house yesterday morning about 10 o’clock* I saw the de* ceased lying on the bed with his mouth open. I thought something was the matter, and went out and brought the previous Who examined him and said he was dead. He then went away for the police and I remained with the body till they returned. G. Tronston : lam a constable stationed at Gisborne, From information I received from Mr Shirley yesterday morning I pro* ceeded to the house of the deceased, was I found lying on his back on the bed with his clothes on and his right arm over his head. I felt him and found hi»n"apparently dead. Later on in the day "I searched the te»dy. I found a purse with 5s fid in his ( trouser pocket, and that was all. There was nothing else in the house. The post mortem examination was made in the afternoon at 4 o’clock p.m. by Dr Leggattr I found no papers in the house to show that he was possessed of money. This was all the evidence, and the jury Returned a verdiet of death from natural Causes.