INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1167, 19 April 1884, Page 3

INQUEST.

On Tuesday evening last an inquest was held at Wadlow’s Hotel, Woodbury, touching the death of William Brearton, a cook, employed at Mount Four Peaks Station. The following jury were empanelled :—W. Cooling, W. Daly, A. Fish, J. Goodwin, P. Guthrie, J. Pearce, W. Wadlow, G, Wood, J, Wilkinson, T. Somerville, R. Flanagan and G. Hammond. Mr Wadlow was chosen foreman.

After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : William Polhill deposed : I have seen the body lying at this hotel, and recognise it as that William Brearton. I have known him for six years ; he has during that time been employed as cook on the stations. I think he was about 44 years of age. I know nothing regarding his death. Norman McPherson deposed : I remember the night of the 14th April. The deceased came to my house that night about 12 o’clock. He asked to be let in. He said he had a fall off k horse before I let him in. He stopped with me that night. He said he felt pain about his body. He had a drink of water, and laid down. Was walking about the place the next day. I was not at home when he died. I last law

him aliro at 8 o’clock on Wednesday morning. He appeared to be better than he was the day before. He was under the influence of liquor when he came to my place, but could walk and talk quite well. Janet McPherson deposed : I am the wife of last witness. The deceased was ill when he came to our house. I saw no change in him. He wa« walking in and out of the place on Tuesday, and early on Wednesday morning. About half-past 12 p.m. on Wednesday last he came into the house, and sat down on the sofa. He had a drink of warm milk, leaned his head on the table on his two hands, and, remaining in that position, I ran for assistance. I was about a quarter of an hour away, and when I returned ha was dead and sitting in the same position. Robert Fish, deposed ; I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing in Geraldine. I examined the body of the deceased to-day. There were no marks of external violence beyond a slight bruise on the right thigh, which I do not attach the slightest importance to. The internal organs were very much diseased ; the heart, liver and kidneys were all diseased. I have no doubt the immediate cause ot death was heart disease. The symptoms of death confirmed this belief.

By a juror : The organi presented the appearance commonly produced by drinking, but from examination I could not eay he was a drunkard, but he probably was.

The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of “ Death from natural causes.”