INQUEST AT STOKE.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 364, 19 April 1861, Page 2

INQUEST AT STOKE.

Qs Wednesday morning the inhabitants of Stoke were thrown into some excitement by a report that Mr. Blaise Beach, proprietor of the; :Tarf Hotel, had died suddenly. The report unfortunately proved correct, he having been attacked about 2 o'clock in the morning, awTafterji few hours' illness succumbed, shortly after the arrival of medical aid. The intelligence also created much surprise in town, Mr. Beach having attended at the Court House Annual Licensing Meeting with other hotel-keepers without exhibiting any indication of such a sudden termination to his life. He appeared in tolerable good, health, and partook of a dinner at an hotel in town apparently ipi good spirits, and it was only upon the evidence that was elicited at the inquest, that.it became generally, known that Mr. Beach had been in prdcanous health for some months previously, especially as he had up to the last moment been attending to his usual avocations. This sudden demise, has lett a widow and three children to deplore their loss. The following jurymen were sworn:—John Cundy (foreman), Alfred Harley, Hen ly Ingram, William Walker, Edwin Joseph Rodeo* Perry, Samuel Frederick Bolton, Richard leare, Joseph Beardmore, Jamea Rowbotham, Henry Randall, Thomas Allport, and Enoch Jetty™o* The Coroner, on opening the case, aawt uwy were called together tt»t day for tta pi*?** <X

enquiring into the sudden death of Blaise Beach, who died on the previous day. After viewing the body the following witnesses were examined :—■

Thomas Tidd sworn : I am a brewer living at Stoke, and knew the deceased : that is his body now viewed by the jury, his age was 38 years ; he died on Wednesday, a quarter before 11 a.m., in the Turf Hotel; he* has been ailing for the last two years from gout aud cramps. He was in Nelson on the previous day, being the licensing day, and appeared well; I was with him, and dined with him at Everett's. I did not return with him. He has been in bed through the last month half the time. The last time 1 saw him was about half-an-hour before he died, he never spoke but appeared conscious. He was a married man; he has a wife and two children; his wife was with him when he died ; ho drank, but only iv a moderate way ; he was sober when I parted with him iv Nelson, was about 3 o'clock. 1 have known him since he has been in the colony; he was a partner of mine. Knew him when he was first married, and after his second marriage; he had no quarrel with his wives. By a Juryman: I did not see him in company with a person of the name of Ladd on Tuesday. Deceased was not confined to his bed on the licensing day through illness; he seemed to recognise me on the morning of his death.

William Small.sworn : I am a farmer living at Stoke, and knew the deceased ever since he had been in the colony. I drove him into town in my cart on the licensing day. As I was returning between 4 and 5 I saw deceased sitting on a bench in Richardson's public house; he seemed to be dosing; 1 then turned the cart round and took him up, and brought him home to his house, tor which he seemed very glad; he was not intoxicated but had had some drink. We stopped at the Rising Sun and had a nobbier of gin each ; We had nothing more until we came to the Turf, he then asked me to have a glass or a nobbier, and think I took a glass of beer, but do not remember his taking any himself. I then left and went horns, which was about 6 o'clock; I did not hear him complain of illness throughout the day. I did not see him again until after his death, at which I was astonished.

By a Juror: When we had the gin at the Rising Sun he said he wonld leave the change for the good of the house ; he gave half-a-crown, the gin came to 9d.

Margaret Beach sworn: I am the wife of the deceased Blaise Beach; he went to Nelson on Tuesday and returned about sor 6 o'clock. He did riot complain of illness when he returned, but through the night he was taken with vomiting and complaint of the bowels; it was about 2 o'clock when he got out first. I went down stairs and got a cup of tea for him. The illness continued, and 1 sent for Dr. Laking about half-past six on the morning of Wednesday, aad he came about half past 8. He said he was dangerously ill, and it was at his instance that I put the stnpes and hot flannels and water to him according to his directions. He (Dr. L.) did not give him any medicine at the time : he ordered mustard blister, and I put them to the calves of his legs; he did not rally. He had a blister on his stomach that Dr. Xaking brought with him. He died at about a quarter to 11 iv the morning. Mary Watson, sworn : I am the mother of. Mrs. JBeach, and live here at the Turf Hotel, and remember Mr. Beach returning on Tuesday evening last; he seemed well; he had some fresh fish for supper—this was a"out 7 o'clock; he did not •drink anything after o my knowledge, but very .soon went to bed • be complained very, early in ■the morning of his bowels and stomach, aud a 'doctor was sent for; he was up and down stairs several times throughout the night; the doctor arrived in the course of an hour after he was sent for; he did not rally ; we could not get heat in him, and he died about 11 o'clock ou Wednesday morning.

'Mary Wilson, sworn: I live at Stoke, opposite »the Turf. I knew the deceased for the last two or ithree years; heard of his illness yesterday morning, and came over to see how he was; I saw him ; this was about 9 o'clock; I went up stairs, and rsaw him in bed j Mrs. Beach was standing beside him ; he was dying, and scarcely moved; he could not speak. I stopped till |he died : he did not appear to be in any pain, and died quietly and without any struggle ; he was not convulsed. By a juror: Mrs. Beach seemed very much affected: she was standing by him, holding his hand; he knew no one—his eyes were fixed. Frederick Augustus Laking, sworn: I am a surgeon residing at Richmond, and know deceased. I was called to see him yesterday morning (Wednesday); it was about 20 minutes to 8 when I received the message at my house; I arrived at about 20 minutes past 8; I saw he was struck with moribund or death, and told him if he had anything to say to say it quickly; he complained of pain all over, particularly in his left arm, and it was then reaching his heart—it was organic disease of the heart; he said he had a saltish taste in his mouth—his pulse had cea3ed, and the action of the heart also—his respiration was laborious, and appeared painful and distressing—he complained of a general pain all over—he appeared to have an excessive^ sweating of cold and clammy sweat. We tried hot fomentations and mustard plasters to the calves of the legs and abdomen, but without any success j I gave him brandy and water, without any benefit. I should say he died from organic disease of the heart, and probably the liver implicated. I attended him some time since, about 18 months ago, when his liver was affected. I did not then look for disease of the heart; he was then laboring under a bilious attack.

The Coroner said that he thought the jury had sufficient evidence before them to come to a verdict, and after a few minutes consultation they returned the following:—

Verdict.—" Died from organic disease of the heart." His remains will be interred this day at the cemetery in Richmond.

Pubmcans' Licenses.—The annual licensing meeting took place at the Court House, on Tuesday last, before J. Poynter, Esq, KM., D. Rough, B. K. Newcome, G. White, W. Wells, and B. Walmsley, Esquires, and the following were sranted5 ranted :—For 12 o'clock :E. Everett, J. Luck, . Lewthwaite, G. Richardson, J. Jervis< C. M'Gee, W. Auty. 10 o'clock: J. Winterburri, F. Stock, W.Wright, J.Porthouse, G.Harding, Lucy Kite, J. Edwards, J. Armstrong, D. Fulton, B. Beach, R. Dishcr, Mary Cleaver, A. Blick, H. Baly. S. Adam, A. Banks, H. Jasper, H. Hudson, A. Bush, H. Ingham, R. Wolfenden. There were three new applications made—Daniel Talbot, for the Green Man, Moutere; E. Everett, Bank Hotel, Hardy-street; and W. Small, for a house between Stoke and Richmond; the first two were granted, the latter refused. The Bench called attention to the necessity for the above houses to have lamps burning at night from sunset to sunrise, and the sergeant-major of police stated that notices would be issued in every case.

Warlike Stores.—-The following, among other articles, have been officially declared to come under warlike stores :—

Firearms of every description. Accoutrements for ditto. Gunpowder of every description, in cartridge or otherwise. Percussion caps and flints. Lead, manufactured or otherwise. Shot, ball, bullets, and all other articles that may be used as missiles from firearms [including, we believe marbles]. Saltpetre. Pikes, bayonets, swords.

Militia.—The following notice has been issued by the Government;—' With reference it the Militia notice of the 11th December last, published in Gazette No. 39, of the 14th December, 1860, the respective senior officers of battalions and companies are requested to forward to the Colonial Secretary's office, as soon as possible, lists of the flumes of all persons liable to serve who have not already been sworn in. These lists are to have the names classified in accordance with the provisions at the sewmd, action of the MiUtia Act Ajnen,Om,eot

Act 1860. The respective senior officers will also forward the names of every person liable to serve who has failed to comply with the seventh section of the above mentioned Act, which requires each such person to give in his name, age, and place of residence, to the senior officer, or the officer appointed for that purpose by the latter, under the forfeiture of a sum not exceeding £5.'

Richmond.—A meeting of the members of No* 6 Company Rifle Volunteers was held at the Schoolroom, Richmond, on the 28th March, when a vote of confidence was unanimously accorded to the captain, officers, and non-commissioned officers.