The Inquest.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5143, 30 September 1895, Page 2

The Inquest.

An inquest was lield.it 11.30 a.m., before Mr T. Hutchison, District Coroner, and tho following Jury Messrs J. lorns (Foreman), P, Murray, J. Elliot, H. Millington, P. Mider and J. Tobin. After tho Jury had viowod the body, Percy Lumsden stated that deceased lodged at his house in Cricket-street. He had last seon him alive at half-past live o'clock on Saturday evening, He then appeared in good health. The deceased usually kept his room till about ten o'clock on Sunday morning, and 011 accouut of the wet weather he was not called till his usual hour had passed. At 2.30 witness called deceased soveral times, and then 011 receiving no außwer opened the door of the bedroom and called him without reply. On going up to tho bed, lie found Hartley dead. He was lying on his right side, with his head resting 011 his right hand. There was no appearance of any disturbance in the bed clothes. Witness went for the polico immediately. Was present in tho room when the police and Dr. Butement arrived. To tho foreman: Mrs Lumsden informed him that the deceased retired about eleven o'clock. Would have culled him earlier if it had been a fine day. To tho Coroner; The doceased hud excellent health during his residence with witness. His habits were very regular. Ho was not a drinking man, but took liquor occasionally, 'the deceased had a wife liying near Whitby, Yorkshire, lingland, and also a son living near Carterton, The deceased was 04 years of age. Dr Dong-las gave evidence that ho had made a post mortem examination of the body. On an external examination ho found nothing to indicate tlio cause of death. Examining the body internally lie found that fatty degeneration of tho heart existed to a largo extent, and also dilation. In his opinion death was due to syncope, caused by tho fatty degeneration of the heart. It was not uncommon for death to occur in sleep in such cases, more especially when flatulence was present, caused by irritation of the stomach. Constable May c;avo formal ovidonco, The jury returned n verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.