INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1160, 3 April 1884, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest, touching the death of /James Rogers, was held before B. Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr A. R. Kirk was chosen foreman, in the Star Hotel, Temuka, last Tursday morning. The following evidence was taken : Michael Quinn : I knew the deceased, James Rogers. He was a laborer, and a single man. I have known him for over 13 years in this district. He was a native of the County of Tyrone, Ireland, He has been stay with me off and on for the last 12 years. He last came here about 6th March last. He appeared to be in consumption, ar.d has not been in good health for the last three years. On Saturday morning about 9.30 o'clock he came out of his roem, went into the kitchen and sat on a chair, One of the maid servants drew my attention to him, and I went in and saw him shaking and shivering. I sent for Dr Hayes. I saw him next on Sunday morning about 7.30. He seemed to me to be asleep, and I went in and tried to rouse him. Immediately after I saw he was unconscious, and i called in some of the men. We stopped TTith him until he died. He used to drink, but not to excess. When he was in good health he was very tem

perate. John Shaw Hayes : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. I made % post mortem examination of the body of the deceased James Eogers. There were no marks of violence, . but a good deal of discoloration of the back and the under parts of the body. This was due to the thinness and poorness of the blood. The internal organs were in a bloodless state, and what there was of it was of a very thin and poor quality. Where I should expect to find clots, there were none. The valves of the heart were healthy, although it was flabby in tissue. The lungs were healthy. On examining the brain, I found some congestion of the vessels of the membranes. There was a large patch of softening on the under surface of the right anterior lobe. The immediate cause of death was softening of

tho brain, He had been suffering from -f- leuco-cythremia. I should not say he was a temperate man from the appearance of his brain, The disease had been going on for a long time. On last Saturday I came in to see him, but when he heard I was in the hotel ho cleared out at the back. I followed him, but he refused any assistance, and said there was nothing the matter with him. I consequently could not give a certificate. No medical assistance could have done him any good last Saturday mcrning. I saw him three years ago about his eyes, but I advised him to go and see someone who made the eye a speciality. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.