CORONER'S INQUEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 255, 19 December 1872, Page 7

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquiry, touching the death of William Casey, better known as "Paddy the miner " was held in the Royal George Hotel, Lawrence, at 10 o'clock on Thursday morning, before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M., coroner. The jury having viewed the body, evidence MB follows was taken. afyhn Copland, barrister-at-law, had seen

the body, and recognised it as that of William Casey, a client of his. He hist saw him alive between six. and seven .o'clock on Tuesday evening, when he accompanied him a part of the way to his home in Gabriels Gully. Deceased had then been taking liquor, but was not intoxicated. Left deceased in company with Denia Casey about fifty yards heyonA the foot of the gully. Air. Alonaghan was with witness aud deceased, and returned with witness. In reply to a juror, the witness stated that deceased had with him a bottle, which he supposed contained grog. Denis Casey, a miner, residing at the Blue Spur, identified the body as that of William Casey. Had been in the employ of deceased as a miner. He was a native of Waserford, Ireland, and 72 years of age. He was a man of intemperate habits. Was with deceased on Tuesday last They visited some hotels. Witness was under the influence of drink, and did not recollect leaving the town. The last thing he recollected was being in Airey's public house in company with deceased. Do not remember meeting with him in the guUy, or being with him there. The next thing witness recollected was being at the house of Mrs. Peters, near the Gabriels Gully Qully Quartz Mining Company's machine. She said he (WUliain Casey) was dead. M ichael Monaghan also identified the body. He saw deceased about six o'clock at the Commercial Hotel. Next saw him at the Victoria Hotel. Witness brought deceased into his shop. Mr. Copland came into the shop, and tried to get him to go home. He (deceased) then produced a bottle of some liquor, and asked them to drink. Witness tasted it, and found it very weak brandy and water. Mr. Copland and witness then accompanied him a short distance up Gabriels Gully. When Denis Casey joined them, he was more under the influence of liquor than deceased. Witness and Mr. Copland left deceased and Denis Casey together.

Edward Lawson said he saw deceased and Denis Casey going np Gabriels Gully about eight o'clock on Tuesday evening. They were boh intoxicated, but he did not think Denis Casey so drunk as not to know what he was about. Deceased had two soda wa'er bottles, one having in it a clear liquid, and the other apparently containing brandy and water. Denis Casey also had a bottle, from witness drank at his request. That bottle contained weak brandy and water. Left the two about a quarter of a mile on the Lawrence side of the company's machine.

John M'Laren, engineer at the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Company's machine, said about ten o'clock on Tuesday night, on going to the machine shed, he discovered the legs of a man lying across the footpath, with his head and shoulders in the tailrace. The tailrace is about 12in. x 12in measurement. The flow of water was obstructed by the body of deceased. There was about 40m. of wa*er in the lailrace, and it was up to the breast of deceased, his head being completely immersed. Witness removed the body, and carried it into the machine house ; took off his scarf and opened his shirr with the view of ascertaining whether he was alive. Believed him to be then dead, although the body was partially warm. Witness left deceased in the care of two men, while he hurried in* o Lawrence to get Dr Halley.

Isaac Murphy, millwright, in the employ of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Company, stated that he saw deceased in company with another man in Gabriels about nme o'clock on Tuesday night, and afterwards saw him at the door of the machine house, going towards «he Gully. He came back again to witness' house, which is situated just below the machine house. He was under the influence of liquor. At about ten o'clock had some conversation with him. He afterwards came to the door of the machine house, and leaned against the door-post for five or ten minutes. No one was with him then. Did no 1 see him go away. The next time he saw decaased was when M'Laren pulW him into tne machine nouse. Where deceased was found is about three feet from where witness last saw him. Life was extinct when M'Laren brought the body into the shed.

Dr. Sewart deposed to having examined the body then lying on view. From the indications presented, he was of opinion that deceased had fallen into the race, got s unned, and then got suffocated by the water. There were no marks of violence on the body. About ten o'clock on Tuesday night, on being called by \1 'Laren, proceeded to the machine house of the Gabriels Gully Qnar'z Mining Company, where ho saw tixc body. The body wis quite cold, and life w:is extinct. Witness found on the body a bag containing £8 in notes, Is. 6d. in silver, and oth.-r articles, which witness produced.

The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned ani suffocated in a certain tailrace in Gabriels Gaily." The following rider was attached :— " The jury desire to express their approbation of the prompt action taken by the witness M'Laren herein."