THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4015, 18 January 1892, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

ao Inmost. Soatli from Natural Umbos, An mquost on tho body of Henry Alexander Crawford, who was found dead under somewhat suspicious circumstances on Saturday morning, was held before the District Coroner on ' Saturday evening. . -ji\ The evidence of Drs Collins anjjiw Pollen went to show that the maa had been many years addicted to drink and had been suffering from conges, lion of the liver and other diseases, • Dr Pollen, who madetho/iMtmorfeiß, ■ stated that he examined- the brain and found an old-standing mischief distinctly marked, thickening of the covering of the brain, and fluid between the brain covering and the brain itself. On opening the cheat he found the lungs healthy and the heart in an advanced stage of disease. The'") right side of the heart was full of blood, the loft empty. On examining the abdomen, he found the liver degenerated, not one particle of healthy liver tissuo being visible, the appearance being typical of what is known as' English gin drinkers' or 'hobnail' liver. In his opinion death was due primarily to syncope; if he had ever -, been stunned by a blow lie would hardly live with the heart he had, and it need not be necessarily a very violent blow to cause the action of the heart to stop, if he had not wa struck at all, but had kadaheatyKil while intoxicated, being a heavy man, it might have caused death.' Witness always expected that deceased would drop down dead. He had warned his wife to expect him to do so at any moment; it was a wonder he was alive so long.

Evidence as to tlia occurrence at the house of Rains was given by the wife of the deceased and tho sous Rains, which n us very contradictory. Constable Gptley stated that he was called to the house between 12 and 1 o'clock, and foiind Crawford lying dead at the baok of the premises, Both the women were very drank, and Gains was half drank. When he arrived on the scene, Mrs Crawford accused Bains of having killed her husband by striking linn, Bains denied the charge, and. further Baid je had had no rosy with Crawford. Detective Campbell was the last witness, who deposed to arresting Rains at his residence in Garrett street at 9 a.m. on Saturday. .On the way to the Police Statjfyi, accused said, ' Crawford and his wife were hammering me, and I had to go upstairs to get out of their way.' The Jury deliberated in private, and in about five minutes brought in 1 < a yordict that death was from natural causes, accelerated by the excitement of the occasion.