Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2934, 11 July 1878, Page 2

Inquest.

An inquest on the body of Mowbray Meggett, whose sudden death is referred to above, was held at the Globe Hotel this morning at 11 o'clock before Mr J. E. Macdoaald and the following jury :— Messrs J. Healy, Walton, Manuel, W. Deeble, B. Jackson, S. M. Gribb'e, J. Cumber, W. Newson, Paul, J. Cocks, Ahier and J. Bickers. , Mr Cocks was chosen Foreman, and the ju y, being sworn in, proceeded to view the body. Dr F. O'Flaherty, sworn, deposed.—l am a duly quaUfrd medical practitioner rcs:dit?g at Thames. I have this day n>?de p. post - moi'tem examination of the■drcesatd. I found the stomach quite empty, hts lungs much congested. His heart and liver were normal. I believe his death was c uced by want of sufficient nourishment and clothing, and exposure to cold, accelerated by his intemperate habits.

Margar^ Henders >n, sworn, deposed— I reside in Shortland, near deceased's house. I have krown him for nearly six years. A poriioa of that time he has been employ"! as p. h;;wker. Of late he has given up tb '„'c employment. He was very much addbtc to liquor, and has several tim6:rbeenin the custody of the police. He resided by himself, and was very eccentric —never rccepting assistance irom anyone, or even spczking to anyone. He was "last seen alive on "Saturday afternoon. I heard a noise, in the deceased's house on Monday night, as if he w^s cutting firewood. This continued fosr about half an hour. I did not see him on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, and about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon I told my sons, and they went over to his house. The doors were closed, and they found decked lying dead. I told tLem they had better fetch the police. 1 JjJ the Forem- n—l know he was always drinfcmg, end scarcely came home sober. He has not had a fire lighted since Chrisiinas.

By a Juror—He never had the door baircd. George Henderson, sworn, deposed—-I am a miner, md am a sou of the last wit* ness, and reside close to Ibe deceased's res:dence. I saw hiru last alive on Saturday afternoon be .ween 12 and 1 o'clock. He w$ s r the street. Yesteidiy, in consequence of what the neighbors said, my brotuer and I went over to his house. The door was not locked, but clo r i, and on opening it Isw the body lying on the flri r. He was dressed except bis coat, wh'eh was under hit head. He was quite dead, and looked as if he had been dead a couple.of days. There was about a sack' lord of bread crusts lying about the room, prd some chops barging on nails. I don't think he ever cooked anything, and have once or twice seen him with a loaf of b/ead under his tin. By a Juror—He has been drunk for the past six months", ard I Lave heard that on Friday he had 18 half-pints of beer at Dunn's.

Constable Joseph W. Day, sworn, de- ■' posed—l am stationed at Shortland. In consequence of information given to me yesterday I visited the house of deceased. Ifc is composed of two rooms, both fronting the road. The windows are all boarded up. On entering the house I found the body lying on the floor in the front room. He was fully dressed and was lying with his head in the fire-place and a bag under his head. He was quite dead and stiff. I made an examination of the body, but found no marks of violence except a small discoloration in the back. I Lave known the deceased for some time. He was very intemperate, and has been twice in gaol lately; having been only discharged last Friday. The last time he was discharged he waß in a shockingly ragged state, and I gave him some old clothes. The house was in a most filthy state. There was no bedding or blankets, except a small piece of blanket a foot square. There was about a sack full of broken bread lying about, and some mildewed meat. There was nothing in deceased's pocket, but I found £14s 4|d in the house, and a packet of letters. The Jury then withdrew, and, after deliberating for half an hour, returned the following verdict:—" That the deceased, Mowbray Meggett, on the Blh day of July, 1878, did labour under bodily disease, produced by want of nourishment, and clothing, and exposure to cold, all resulting from his imtemperate habits, and by such disease, and not by any violent means whatever, he did die;" with a rider to the effect "that the parties who supplied the deceased with liquor are much to blame, as the evidence taken shows the deceased to have been continually intoxicated for the past six months."