INQUEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 323, 21 January 1874, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Golden Ago Hotel, Waitahuna, on Saturday last, before, E. H. Carew, Esq., District Coroner, on thebody of a miner named Thornton, who met his death on the previous Friday in a very mysterious and sudden manner. He left the house of another miner named Stewart, at the Round Hill, where he bad been boarding for a. short time, on Thursday ■ vesh>g after having tea, and was not discoverel until tLe following evening. When found, deceased had; a piece of rope round his neck, about 2 feet in length — consisting of three loops, and a number of knots of various shapes. The largest loop was round the nock of deceased, broken, and had evidently been, connected together by means of a slip-knot. The position in which the body was. found did not clearly show that death had resulted from strangulation, as no= appearance of a struggle or marks of violence were visiile. It was the opinion of two witnesses — >f r. Stewart and Constable Hughes — that iiad death been caused by this means, tltf body would hay», been found lying in *- different positionDeceased had be,en ail*ig for a considerable, time previous to,his d*»th. He was a. member of Court Hayelof*, A.0.F. ; was 33.yeaxa of age ; and, it is supposed, a native of Oxford, England Mr. Higgins acted as foreman. Tho fi:=t witness called was

John Stewa-c, who, after being sworn, deposed — I aiva.xniner residing at the Sound Hill. I saw the body of deceased now lying on view. ,i- recognise it aa that of Thomas Thornton He was boarding at my house for the hat fortnight. He used to- sleep ia his owa hut in Sheephead G-ully,- which i» distant about a quarter of a mile from my place. I saw; deceased last alive on Thursday, 15ih January, between 5 and 6 o'clock in tho evening as far as I can recollect. He was in. my house at that time, when he had tea. He left my place at *1 o'clock : but did not mention where he was going. He went in tha direction of his own hut". Deceased was a miner j but before Christmas he was working on the railway for a fortnight. He had beeu working by himself since New Year. I went to my work at & o'clo.k on Friday morning, a little later than usual ; and when I came homein the evening,. I. heard that he (deceased) had not been up during the day. I wont down to his hut. before I had my tea, and found that he was not there. Deceased complained previously that he wa3 unwell. I would imagine for about Bor 9 days. I recommended him to .go to the doctor ; and he said if, he were no better nest morning lie woiill. I said if he were unable to. go, I would go^for him. He replied that if he felt no better he would go. himself. When I went to the hut and found' fchat he was not there, I concluded that he had gone. To see the doctor, he would have to, go to Lawrence — a distance of 14 miles. I offered him my horse to go, and thought it strange that he had not come for it. Went do.wn to the hut a second time, about o'clock in the evening. I saw a suit of clothes on the bed, and thought he would have pat it on had he gone to Lawrence, I thought it probable he might have gone to Waitahuna. I went home immediately, and re-visited the hut shortly afterwards. I knew that deceased was -working in Quarts Beef Gully. I proceeded to his claim. After going up the race towardj \he dfuu, I s*w win*

X

washdirt thrown up where ho had been working." When I saw the dirt, and found that he had taken some of it away, I eooeyed, but received no reply. I then went up the gully to the dam. I saw the body of deceased in front of the bank of the dam. (Witness here described the position of the dam and the posture deceased was lying in.) When I found the body, I ran away for Robert Craig* •eoior, who lives about a mile from the dam. He (Craig) then went away for the police, antf I returned to my home shortly after"w«rdß. Deceased was not in very good circumstances. He came previously from Adams Flat, and has been about 12 months in tho district. Ido not think he had any enemies— being a very quiet and inoffensive man. Ido not think he was on Dad teims with any one. He was a native of England. I do not recollect from what part he came. He was about 33 years of age. I recognised a piece of small rope, or clothes line, about the »eck of deceased. I think ho bought the rppe from Mr. Duff eoine time ago. Do not fcnow for what purpose he used it. Several questions were asked the witness by Mr. Inspector Thompson and one or two 3 u «> r8 ' but no facts of importance were elicited, further than that deceased was a man of .temperate and retired habits. Samuel Hughes, sworn, deposed— l am a constable stationed at Waitahuna, Robert Craig, senior, came to me and reported that •John ' Stewart had' found a man dead in Nuggety Gully. I proceeded^ with Craig, .junior, immediately to his residence. On our arrival there, Stewart and Craig, senior, had two lanterns ready. We proceeded to deceased's hut. From thence, we v went across .the- gullies to where deceased was lying. I know, • the gully by repute ; it's name is Quartz Reef Gully. On our getting near to ihe place, John Stewart pointed out and said, " There the body lies." We had' a difficulty in finding the body at first. It was then "ibout half-past 1 o'clock this (Saturday) morning, and very dark. The body was at the bottom of the gully close to the clam. I first felt to ascertain if there was any animation in the body, but found that it was dead and cold. Deceased was lying flat on his back ; mouth slightly open, and a frothy substance issuing from either side ; the right hand was plenched, and lying closs beside the body ; and the left was open, but not clenched. I exl^amined the body. I recognise it as the same on view. I found a small piece of rope round $he neck of deceased. (Rope produced.) The rope was knotted, and in three loops — tho largest being round the neck. I could not •oe any marks of violence on the body. We brought the body out of the gully, and placed it on the bank. Wo removed the deceased in some blankets to Craig's house. I procured a spring cart, and brought the body (lown.here. After bringing it down at 6 o'clock this morning, I re-examined it, and found no marks whatever about, the neck. I searched the deceased and found a pocket book, pipe, and matchbox. (Articles produced.) WTnlst waiting for the cart, Craig, junior, and myself visited deceased's hut. I took an inventory of all that was there, and also of what I got on tlie body. (Witness enumerated a list of articles found in the hut, which appeared to be of little value.) I saw no ltetters or papers. We esaadned tho ground minutely where the body was discovered. Could not sue any appearance of a struggle. Saw no human foot prints about the place. - 1 noticed a stick projecting from the abutment of the dam about six inches in height. I would not like to saj-, owing to the darkness of the night, that deceased strangled himself by means of the rope. By the Foreman : Do you think that the piece of wood projecting from the abutment v sufficiently strong to bear a man's weight? V/itrsess : Yes, I do. In answer to questions put by the Coroner, witooas g&kl that the piece of projecting wood was very firm and solid, and did. not think that it vouiJ yield to the weight of a man. He was also of opinion that tlie rope was strong enough to hang a man if he were so disposed. Ebecezer Uailey, sworn, deposed — I am a qualified medical practitioner residing at Lawrecce. I practice in this neighborhood, being Court doctor of the Foresters. I examined the body lying on view. I find no marks of external violence. On cutting down at the back cf the spine, I found a dislocation of tho bones cf the neck. The parts around the injury ara congested with venal blood. Such an injury would cause instantaneous death. I caw co other external injuries. I cannot account in any way for the injuries received. I think that a fall of 5 feet might cause the injury, if deceased fell immediately on his head. The^'e are no marks ai-ound the neck. A sudr den jerk would cause death in my opinion. The neck did not present tlie usual -marks in a-caaeof hanging. The Coroner, in a few remarks, observed that tha evidence was very unsatisfactoiy, although thtre appeared to be nothing indicating foul play. Deceased, while working at his dam, might have fallen backwards suddenly, and death woull have resulted from the fall. The doctor's evidence does not prove that strangulation took place. The jury then retired, and after deliberating ■^ter a short time, returned the following open verdict'- — "That the deceased ~ William Thomas Thornton was found dead in Quartz Reef Gully, on the 16th day of January, 1874, death being caused by dislocation of the neck ; but how such dislocation was caused, there is not sufficient evidence to show."