INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1808, 27 October 1888, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Thursday last at the residence of Mr W, Ashbj, before the Rev. G. Barclay, and a jury of six, touching the death of Ellen Coulter, the little girl, 2 years of age, who wandered away from home on Tueiday morning, and was found dead the following day.

Mr B, P. Bartrum was chosen foreman of tbe jury. The jury having viewed the body, H. Coulter, the father of the child, deposed to haying recognised the body as that ot his daughter Ellen, aged 2 years. When lost it had a small bruise on the left temple, whioh however, was nearly well. Had noticed the marks on its forehead. The child had had a habit of sleeping on its face, and he believed the marks were caused by its forehead lying on the ground, as the body was on its face when found.

James Ashby, tbe boy that was last with the child, gaye evidence as to being with tbe deceased about nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, when she was playing in the yard, her sister sitting on tbe steps of the granary a few feet distant. t£e left her to go to an outhouse and in about fire or ten minutes the child was mißsod,

William Asbby, the grandfather of the deceased, deposed to the child being reported to him as missing and' bis maka search for it in the creek, assisted by six other persons, Not being successful he got on a horse and went upi the road for about a mile before turning. This was in the direction in which the child was ultimately found, Tben went down the road as far as Campbell's, Oooper'e Creek, Assisted by tbe neighbours he searched all over the country, but tbjty were unable to find the child, Were not successful till about 11 o'clook on Wednesday morning, when the body was found. There were 22 horsemen present then. The previous night had been bitterly cold, with rain and sleet. Reported the matter to the 1 police at Geraldine about 5.15 on the afternoon of the day the ohild was lost.

Henry Sowerby, deposed to haviig joined the Be arch party on Wednesday morning about 10.30. Found the body about half a mile from Tripp'i cutting, on the top of the terrace, about three oliains from the edge, The body wai lying on its face with one arm stretched rat, lhe child's hood was lying beside it. There were no marks of anyone else baying been there. Thought from the appearance of the child that it had fallen down from exhaustion and perished, as its clothes were wet through. It was quite dead when found, and its clothes were soaking wet. There were no narks of violence risible.

Constable Wil lough ay, deposed to baiog present when the body was found. Thought it had been dead fully four hours or more. Was present when the child was undressed and washed, and examined the body. There were no marks wbaterer upon it with the exception of those described as being upon the forehead, which were evidently produced, by the child's forehead lying upon the eartb. Believed the child had died from exhaustion and exposare. The jury returned a rerdiot to the effect that the child died from exposure aud exhaustion consequent ipon baring wandered away from its home-on the 23rd inst. They also considered that every effort that could possibly be made to find the child had been made by tbe parents and friends, The funeral took place yesterday, the hoarse being followed by a very large procession of friends and sympathisers.