RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 679, 5 June 1867, Page 2

RIVERTON.

(kbom oub own ooeeespondent.) , /-. '■■ An inquest was held on. Friday last, the 31st ultf, at the Eoyal Hotel, by D. S. Lawlor,.Esq.j on the "body of Joseph Patten, carter, aged ]34 _ years, who was found lying dead near the Waimatuku on the -previous Wednesday. The. jury having been .sworn, the following witnesses were examined. : John Egbert Mills, hotel-keeper, heing sworn, stated as follows :— I have seen the corpse now lying in the adjoining room, and recognise it as that of Joseph Patten, late a resident in this town. I was proceeding from Riverton to InyercargiH on Wednesday morning last.. I went by the upper ford. The first thing that attracted my attention was a cart lying upside down with a horse in a similar position ; on looking closer .1 perceived a man lying underneath the cart. - I immediately tied my horse up, and, on placing my hand on the man, I found he was dead. I then tried to extricate the horse from the shafts, but was unahle to succeed, it heing so exhausted. I did not recognise the man when he was lying underneath the cart. I rode as fast as I could towards Mitchell's, I met Mr Mitchell, and told

him there was a man lying dead under a cart, near the Waimatuku. He asked ac what sort of a horse it was. I told him, and he then said it must be Patten, as he had passed through overnight. He said he would go to the spot with his man. I proceeded to the ferry, and stated the circumstances to some men working, there, they said they would not like to meddle with the body until the police had seen it. I then met a gentleman onhorseback, going to Riverton.\ I asked him to report the case there to thepplice, and say it was Patten. I did not se'e^tiy signs of footmarks near where the accident occurred. . The body was above high water mark at these tides. I do not think any other person had been there before me. JFronTwhat I saw I should think the wheel of the cart must have gone over a log which was lying near, . and upset the cart. I did not notice any wheel-marks after the cart had passed the log, but saw them leading up to it. I should think the butt end of the log was about two feet and a-half in diameter. Ido not know if the Tinxsß was vicious.. 1 By a juryman — it was » xvttafter lO'when I passed the scene of the accident. I did not meet any one between Riverton and the Waimatuku. , . John Mitchell being sworn, deposed as follows — I keep an accommodation^ ouse near the New River Perry. I have seen the remains lying in this hotel, and recognise them as those of JosepK Patten. I first saw the corpse on Wednesday morning last ; it was lying under the box of a cart near the Waimatuku. From the marks on the beach, I should think the horse must have been going at a trot. I perceived two wheel marks leading up to a log on the beach. I saw the mark of one wheel on the log, but did not see the two wheel marks afterwards. ■Prom the appearance of the cart, I consider the log was the cause of its being upset. The log measured about two feet and a-half from the ground. I saw a little blood on the forehead of the deceased, JTroin information I received from Mr Mill's, I was induced to proceed with my man to the Waimatuku. I met a Mr Taylor near there, and asked him to assist, me to lift the cart. . I did not move the body. The box of the cart wats lying between the shoulders' and across, the neck of the man. He was quite dead. It was an iron-grey horse that was in the cart. -* Patten left my house about eight o'clock.on Tuesday night. He was quite sober. ' Sergeant. Shury being sworn, stated : .About 2 o'clock on Wednesday last I received information from Andrew Taylor that Joseph Patten was lying dead at the Waimatuku. lat once proceeded there, and found Mr Mitchell and his man in charge of the body; it was lying with its - face downwards. . The \ position was straight, the arms were -extended, and partly doubled at the elbows. *It was .quite stiff. I saw a slight graze over the left eye, and also a mark over the clothes extending -from the right shoulder-blade/ over the left side- of the neck,- as though a heavy weight had been on him, there was no weight on the body when I. saw it. I examined the spotjto try and find out how the accident happened.; I found horses' foot-marks, a^d wheel marks^ leading up to a log, and; believe that the off- wheel must have struck the butt-end of the log, and capsized the cart on its left side. „ The, log was about two feet and a-half in diameter. I consider that the log would have upset any vehicle coming in. contact with it. The head of the corpse : was pointed towards the beach, on the left side of the log. Prom where the deceased's head was to where the wheel appeared to have struck the log, was about eighteen- feet. I removed the body to where it nowflies. By a juryman : Ido not think "that any part of the . body could have been kicked by the horse. ; James r Martin sworn— I x am ?a; duly qualified medical ■ practitioner. I have made a post mortem examination upon the remains of Joseph , Patten ."'"' I opened the chest. and the, abdomen. -I found the lings in a very unusual state of congestion, so solid' as to be-almost of the consistence, of liy.eri /Thejrdid.not nearly fill the chest as usual. ;' They were '-of an intense purple color. The large vessels "of the. heart were full of dark fluid :blbod. The whole of the organs were more or less congested, ; although otherwise healthy. There .were various diseqlorat^ons of the * skin, .but which were post mortem appearances, not indicating injuries during life/ There was a slight abrasion of the skin' on the left temple, and a strong contraction- of the muscle of the arms, indicating violent efforts. On turning the body over, I found an indented mark on the back; as if a rail of a cart had passed there. Ido not consi der deceased died suddenly, but from suffocation caused by pressure on his ebest. This concluded the evidence, and the jury after having consulted together for a short period, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."