Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3595, 5 July 1880, Page 2

Inquest.

An inquest was held this forenoon at the Salutation Hotel, Mary street, before Dr Kilgour, Coroner, on the body of Francis James Shine, who died suddenly in the Thames Goldfield's Hospital on Friday c veni n g las t. ,

The following gentlemen were sworn on the Jury:—Messrs W. Newman, J. Nichols, F. Ashman, M. Whitehead, W. Gribble, A. Clarke, E. Bateman, C. Fergan, A. Burns, T. Clarke, J. F. Cocks, and E. Walters.

Mr F. Ashman was cliosen Foreman

Dr C. H. Huxtable deposed—l have made a post-mortem examination of the body, which, is that of a sparely nourished male about the age of 23 years, below the medium height. There were no external jnarks of violence on the body. The internal examination showed the lungs to be gorged with frothy blood. The heart was contracted and healthy, and the liver showed fatty degeneration. The brain membranes were greatly congested by black blood. There was a patch of softening under the lower part of the right hemisphere. The kidneys and other orgaas were hralthy. I saw. deceased two or three hours before he died. He was then unconscious.. His breathing was laboured.- Convulsive fits took place every few minutes. I attribute the death of deceased irom the disease of the brain, precipitated by over-exertion at a time when he was suffering from physics! debility. There was no efinsion of blood on the brain.

Ellen Hendy, wife of John Hendy, residing at Bolleston street, said deceased was her brother, tie was living with ber for four or five weeks. DuriDg that time she never heard him complain. He was fully able to work if he hpd had any to do. Her brother left her house at eight o'clock on Friday morning, when he appeared in good health. He went out for a walk, and was merely prospecting for his own amusement.

James Hendy said he was a nephew of the deceased. He went out with deceased on Friday morning last, accompanied by James Moase who was going to prospect. We went (o Block 27. Deceased commenced picking, and continued to do so for about ten minutes. Moase and deceased took it in turns to pick until 12. o'clock. He only had a little dinner and returned to work. He complained of having a headache, and looked round aud about with an apparently vacant stare. Si is eyes then began to roll and he fell down in a fit. Witness tuen went for Mr Boyle, who endeavoured to arouse him to consciousness. The fit left him in about a quarter of an hour, and seemed to recover. They got him down the hill. He said Ise was all right and sent witness to get his coat which he had left on the hill. Deceased then had a second fit, and was taken to the hospital.

The jury returned a verdict in.accordance with the medical evideuce.