INQUEST AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1158, 9 October 1883, Page 3

INQUEST AT GERALDINE.

On Saturday morning last an inquest was held before J Beswick,Esq., Coroner for the district, touching the death of Mr Thomas Millard.

The following getlomen composed the jury Messrs W Coltman (Foreman), W Clarke, W Colbert, N Dunlop, 6 Fox, J D Gore, H Holloway, E J Jones, T Nailon, W Stonehouse and R Somerville. The jury having been sworn, and viewed the body, the following evidence was taken

Emma Millard deposed : I was the wife of the deceased, Thomas Millard, whose body has been viewed by the jury. I last saw him alive on Thursday morning, October 4th, at half-past nine o’clock. He was then in his usual health. He was not going out anywhere to ray knowledge when I left the house. He has had two epileptic fits. The last one was about two years ago. I was not at home when he was brought in. He cannot ride well. When [returned home he was dead.

Robert Glass deposed: I last saw the deceased alive on Thursday last, about half-past six p.m. He was then on horseback going towards the end of the township. I spoke to him and he answered me all right. He was then riding quietly. He appeared to me to be sober. George Russell deposed : I am a laborer and knew deceased by sight. At half-past seven in the evening of Thursday last I saw him lying on the road near Connolly’s, about two miles from the township. He was lying on his back in the centre of the road. There were no signs of his having been dragged by the horse. He was alive but insensible. I rode into Geraldine and reported the accident to the constable. He was bleeding very much from the head, By the foreman : I saw no one about. I went to Connolly, who came and stood by the body till I came back from the township. There were no signs of a struggle on the ground. H ! s hat was a short distance from where he lay. Robert Fish, deposed • I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Geraldine. On Thursday evening last I was called out to see Millard, who was laying in the road as reported by last witness. His head was laving towards Hilton and his feet towards Geraldine, I went home with him, as I saw he was seriously injured. X had not the slightest hope for him from the first, I remained with him till his death, which took place about midnight. He was insensible till the last. The wound on the back of his head was such as would have been produced from falling on a hard road. The cause of death was pressure on the brain. The Coroner having intimated that he considered it unnecessary to make any comments on the case, the cause of death was so apparent,, The jury returned a unanimous verdict of ‘Accidental Death.’