CARTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 165, 21 May 1879, Page 2

CARTERTON.

(I'KOM OUK OWN COKIIESrOSDEXX.) May 20, 1879.

An inquest was held at the Royal Oak Hotel, Carterton, on the 19th inst., before the District Corner, to inquire into the cause of death of Mr George McPartland, who had died suddenly on the evening of Saturday, tlio 17th inst. A Jury having been duly, empanelled, elected Mr William Booth, sen., as their Foreman, and proceeded to tlio house of the deceased to inspect the body.

On their return to tlio Court the following witnesses were culled and examined John Sullivan, brother-in-law of the deceased, the barman of the Royal Oak Hotel, Charles Giles, the son of the proprietor of the Hotel, and Dr Smith, of (ireytown, who had made a post mortem examination, The evidenco adduced showed that the deceased had come from his home about 10.30 in the morning to have a cart repaired, and had had four drinks of Hcnnessy's brandy. Ho had then returned home, and about five in the afternoon had called again, and had live moio brandies. He was on his horse and about proceeding home when his brother-in-law came up and led him home, On their arriving there the deceased was found to be incapable of descending from his horse, and was carried into his house by Mr Sullivan and some of the family of the deceased, and laid on the sofa in the front room. The deceased did not speak after leaving the hotel, Mr Sullivan went'to his own home, and about an hour after Mrs McPartland came to him and said her husband was very bad or dead, He wont down to deceased's house and leant over him. He found lie was warm, but . thought he was dead. The ReFather Halbwachs was sent for, and corroborated the fact of Mr McPartland's death. Mr Sullivan stated that lie had known deceased since 1800, and always believed him to be a healthy man, Some few years ago he broke his thigh, which had rendered him somewhat weak on his legs, but he had never heard him complain about his general health at all. He had seen deceased in the morning, and he was then quite well. The result of the post mortem examination showed that tlio liver was healthy, the stomach full of food, but smelling strongly of alcohol, and that the cause of death was ossification of the aorta and the left side of the heart.

The Coroner having charged the jury, left them in charge of the constable to consider their verdict,' which, after a long and desultory discussion, was returned as follows That deceased died at his residence at Carterton on the 17th May, 1879, of disease of the heart." The following rider was attached to the verdict—- " That means should be taken to prevent publican's selling intoxicants to any person who showed any signs of having already had intoxicants on the same day." The deceased was sixty-three years of age. The funeral takes place at midday to-day.