CORONER'S INQUEST.

West Coast Times, Issue 653, 28 October 1867, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Saturday, at the Templemore Hotel, North Revell street, before Dr. Beswick, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr Robinson was foreman, on view of the body of Robert Russell. The coroner, jury, and witnesses, haying viewed the body, tho following evidence was taken :—: —

Patrick Ward deposed that deceased had been living in the Tenrpleinore Hotel, and worked in the stables attending to the horses. About six o'clock on Thursday night, a man named Edwards came in for a g 1 ass of brandy, saying that it was " Bob" who had been kicked by a mare. Edwards took the brand}', and in about five minutes witness went out and saw deceased sitting on some bags in the store where he used to sleep. Deceased said that he had been kicked in the belly. Witness and Edwards remained for some tune in the store-room. Witness wanted to fetch a doctor, but deceased said, " Oh ! I'll soon be all right." Witness saw deceased several times afterwards, and. wanted to go for a doctor, but deceased still said " Oh ! no, I'll soon be all right." Between 12 and 1 o'clock deceased was taken into the kitchen and put on a sofa, and Edwards remained with him all night. About 5 a.m. Edwards called witness, saying that deceased did not seem so well. Witness got up, and found deceased sitting on the sofa. Edwards gave him a drink of water. Witness went for the doctor about 6 o'clock, and on returning he met Edwards, who said deceased was dead. Witness ran back again to the doctor, wlio came and said deceased was dead.

By the Jury — Deceased had been used to attending to the mare ; did not know whether deceased was drunk or sober ; he spoke sensibly. Robert Edwards d eposed that for the last week he had been stopping with Mr Ward. On Thursday evening, about six o'clock, witness saw deceased in the room where he used to sleep. Deceased was kneeling, and witness asked what was the matter. Deceased replied, "The mare has kicked me, and I feel as if I should faint. This witness here corroborated Mr Ward's evidence, and said that deceased was sober. Deceased said that he was chopping up some firewood, and one of the splinters flew about the mare's heels, and as he stooped to pick it up she kicked him. Deceased refused to let witness look where the kick had been, saving that he would soon be better. Deceased would not hear of a doctor being sent for. Witness remained with deceased all night in the kitchen. Deceased remained quiet until morning, just before the-doctor was called, when he got restless and asked for brandy, which he got. Deceased got worse, and witness called Mr Ward, who went for a doctor. Soon after deceased wanted to be raised up, and witness was helping him up when he quivered and laid back, and in less than five minutes was dead. Deceased would not allow any remedies to be applied to him. John Simpson deposed that he was deceased's nephew. Deceased was from Kelso, in Scotland. He was married, and his wife went to Scotland about four years ago. Was not aware that deceased had any property. Dr. Dermott deposed that about six o clock on Friday morning he was called to attend deceased. Witness hurried up to the Tomplemore Hotel, and found deceased was dead. The body was quite warm, and deceased seemed only to have been dead for a few minuten. Witness had made a post mortem examination of

the body, and found that the intestines had been ruptured, and their contents had escaped into the cavity of the abdomen. Deceased appeared' to have suffered from long-standing rupture, and the blow he had received was immediately over that portion of the abdomen. The cause of death was rupture of the intestines. A kick from a horse would have produced the injuries. By the Jury — Deceased's case was utery hopeless from the first. No medical _ treatment would have been of any avail. The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental death.