CORONER'S INQUEST

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3631, 13 November 1890, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST

Tho Lato John '{fraoo,

An inquiry'into "the; oironnistanqei attending the doath of the latbfMi 1 John Grace was held-yesterday, be* fore Coroner Roberts and the following jury:—MessrsW. Cullen (foreman); J. G. Maokay„W...Perry, H, Reese, J; Russell, and T. D. Thomp son.

The usual oath having been administered, the jury proceeded to viow the body. Nathaniel Grace, sheepfafmer of Gladstone, sworn, stated that'be recognised the deceased as his brother. He was fifty-two years of age. Last saw deceased alive. at the ; breakfast table of the Marquis of. Normanby Hotel about 8.80 on Tuesday morn> tog. He was not aware, at that time his brother was coming to Masterton, j About three years ago deceased had I two or threo very severe epileptic , fits. : Hnd.no opportunity of seeing iif ho had fits since that time. .;.'. His j brother had lived most of his time in Carterton orTeatherston.. The de ceased was given to drink.

James Brown, sworn,'stated that he was & journalist residing at Carterton. He.knew the deceased, Hired a buggy on Tueiday morning about 8.30.: o'clock from; Messrs Hannah and' McKeuzie to come to Masterton.." Deceased accompanied him as driver. As far as his judgment went, deceased was sober when they left/; He appeared to be a little low spirited, but he. could assign uo oiuse for this. When they got on to i the Taratahi plain it struck witness that deceased did not want to go. He seemed to bo "fidgety" and expressed an opinion that he 'Would like .to go back, Witness passed the remark, "Oh you're all right." The deceased then seemed to. collapse, and settle down in the buggy, Then took the reins and drove on. When they reached the Waingawa deceased said, "I'm nothing past this," Took no notice but drove on. Had proceeded about half a mile further when the deceased said, " I'm not going any further," The deceased,.then took hold of tbe reins- and said "stop," Witness then stopped and the. deceased got down," Kept the buggy standing there about ten minutes or quarter of an hour. Turned round and asked deceased to come on, but he would not. 0 ltiir ately drove on«ithout deceased, leaving him standing in the road about a quarter of an hour's walktnisside of the Waingawa bridge. After leaving deceased he believed he met several vehicles on the road,

To the Jury: When the deceased "collapsed" he appeared to lose all energy. Did not know where the creek was, but deceased must have walked back some distance to where he was found. Turned the buggy round several times to sea .where deceased was. The last witness-saw of him he was "steering" for Masterton. Lid not notico any sigriß of illness in deceased on the road, and did not notice any difference in him.

Cornelius Dixon, farmer of the Upper Plain, deposed that he did not know the deceased. About 10.15 on. Tuesday morning he was driving ina buggy along .the Manaia road, when he met the lust witness driving towards Masteiton. 'fine was about half a mile this side of. where deceased was found. Saw deceased approaching hira, and he appeared from his walk to be very much intoxicated. He eat himself down on the side of the road about a chain on this side of Mrßoss's house, The creek would be about two chains from where deceased was sitting. Did not speak to deceased, but tied his pony up and went into Mr Boss's who lived about two chain off the road. Was inside about five minutes, When he returned deceased was up and was walking towards Cartortou, During the time witness was coming from Ross's house to the road deceased laid himself down about ten or twelve yards from the creek and four yards from the road, Wont into Boss's a second time, but did not notice deceased when he oame out and did not see him again. Hugh Kelly, farmer of Upper Manaia, sworn, stated that ho did not Ispow deceased, He was coming into Masterton on Tuesday with a load of firewood. _ His attention was drawn to Something near Ross's. His horse shied as it was orossing tho creek. Drew up, and looking down saw the deceased in the water, He was lying on his stomach, with the left arm extended, and bis right leg drawn up under him', His head was towards Carterton. Saw Mr John Judd and called to bim, They then took tho body out of the water and laid it on the sido of the creek, The body was quite lifeless. • Left Mr Judd there and came into town and acquainted the police with thecir. oumstances, When he saw deceased in the wafer first it would be about 10,45 or 11 o'clock, No efforts were made to restore animation, They did nothing but pull him out and lay him c# tho bank, It took about throe quarters of an hour for bim to come into Mastorton from where the body was found. '.

To tho jqry; There was no foam or blood about tho mouth of deceased. He was lying face downwards, Tho body appeared to be quite lifeleSß when he took it out, Knew he was dead because he was stiff, There wore no marks about the ground of a strtigglo having ensued. Tho man Beeined to have had a fit.

John Judd, farmer oi Manaia, corroborated the evidence of the last witness. He had further seen a buggy-pass his house 'about-ten s'plook with two men in it. The horse was (hen galoping, After' wards saw tho buggy pn the road with, one man oply in it. Saw another man on the Bide of the road, but could not recogniso him, In the distance,, when walking along the road, ho did not appear to be tho worse for drink,

Dr S, F. Jleard, sworn, deposed that he was called upon on Thursday to see the deceased, When he reached the deceased he was apparently dead. Examined Mm, and camo to the conclusion that he was quite dead, There was no beating of the heart,.-bill ho used. artificial respiration''for half an hour. He should say that the cause of death was drowning. Had since seen the deceased, but could not say whetber'V not he had had a fit. It was impossible to say.

To the jury: It would be perfectly jmpopsibje upon asuperfigiajex'anplijtioh tosay [f an Vjijje|iiio fit," The neck' Vileoe'ased iwjsfyefrfainly not dislocated, 'Should think tho decease'] h'ad beon dead spine time, a§ tire surface of the bidy'iyas chilled, ' ■. ..- V;ir iy ■';:■ ; Copstable May, sworn, stated that from instructions ceeded pi) Tuesday to th-e-Manaiii, about three wiles' from Masterton, where he found the deceased lying on the road side. Dr Beard was working at the body at, the time, Took

charge of the body and brought it to s Miwlerton, where ho made a'thorotigh ■ skrch,': Pound no marks of violence on-tho body. Senrohed: deceased'a : clothes, and found a watch and chain. The waloli had stopped at 10.50, and ■ there was water insider..: • Pound also ott the body a pipe and sundry papers'. The jury, after a short, retirement, returned;!* verdict that the deceased was found drowsed," but there; was no evidence to .show how the body came to be in the water.; <- ' '