CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 819, 1 June 1871, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

(FIIGM OTJB OWN COBKESPONDENT.) CORONER'S INQUEST. An inquest was held on Monday last at 2 p m., by Charles Broad, Esq., Coroner, at Regan's Post Office Hotel, to enquire into the cause of the death of Thomas M'Grrath. The following jury were sworn : William Rowe, foreman ; J. Fenton, D. Cunningham, J. Moles, W. Lindsav, W. Nahr, D. Sullivan, T. Keenan, H. Lang, T. Cadigan, T. Bear, J. Simpson, and M. Carroll. The jury having viewed the body, the following witnesses were examined: — Patrick Barnes stated: lam a miner residing near the Four-mile. I have seen the body shown to the jury ; it is the body of Thomas M'Grrath. He was a mate of mine. He was thirtyone years of age, and a native of the County Wicklow, Ireland. On Saturday morning last, the 27th ult., deceased came to me at the hut; he looked pale. I asked him what happened him, and he replied that he fell over the truck on to the ground, which is about sixteen feet. I took off his clothes, and he lay on the bed. He complained of his side. I examined his side, and there was a large lump. He was in great pain, and began retching shortly afterwards. I bathed him with some lukewarm water, and got some men to help me to bring him into the Hospital. I came before to see the doctor. Deceased was perfectly sensible all the time. The doctor examined him, and gave him some pills. He said he would go asleep shortly. He remained in that state until I left about ten o'clock. I next saw him on Sunday morning. He seemed as if he felt easier, and was occasionally sleeping. I was with him nearly all day. About ten o'clock at night he had a change for the worse, and about twelve o'clock I could see that he was dying. I called the warder. He told me to go and see Dr Henry. I went and saw the Doctor. He said he thought as much. The doctor did not return with me. Deceased was alive when I returned. He died at 1 o'clock. By the Jury : I examined the place where the accident happened. Two of the chocks had come out of the rails, and one of the '.rails got loose. When the truck met the solid rail it tipped up. The doctor did not i-eturn with me. I told him the man was dying. The doctor left the Hospital between ten and eleven o'clock. Joseph Henry, sworn, said: I am a legally qualified medical practitioner in charge of the Charleston Hospital. On Saturday last at about one o'clock M'Grrath was carried into the Hospital, suffering considerably from prostration from shock. On enquiring into the cause, he said he fell off the break of a truck, and tumbled down a height of sixteen feet. . He fell with his belly on a stump. Ho supposed he lay insensible there five or six minutes. Then, he made his way to the hut.- He was under treatment until about two hours before his death. I saw him last a little after eleven ; he appeared to be suffering from internal injuries ; he was suffering excruciating pain. I have made a post mortem examination on him since. That portion of the intestines known as the descending colon was ruptured about two inches and a half, from which inflammation sot in. That was the direct cause of death, and would very likely be the result of a fall such as he described. I told the warder that I thought he would die in about two hours. He was closely and assiduously watched at all hours from the time he came in. The injuries that the man had received were necessarily fatal. I told his mates that the case was likely to prove fatal, and that they had better get a clergyman for him, when he was carried in. I told the warder to send for me if any change took place. I wanted to know for my own satisfaction.

Albert Richardson, sworn : I am the warder of the Charleston Hospital. Deceased was brought into the Hospital on Saturday at one o'clock. Dr Henrywas in the Hospital at the time. He gave instructions to me what to get for him in regard to medicines and attentions. Dr Henry said it was a very serious case. He advised one of his mates to get the priest- The priest told me that Dr Henry desired him to come. On Saturday I understood it to be a fatal case, and again on Sunday. Dr Henry has been there several times, and the last time he told me to send for bim if he got worse. About 8 o'clock he took a change for worse. I then went for the doctor. He came, and again came about 11 o'clock; at that time he was past recovery. He, died at five minutes past one o'clock this morning. The Coroner then summed up, and the jury found the following verdict:— " That the cause of death was purely accidental, and therefore- there was no blame to bo. attached to any one."

One of the jurors asked'the Coroner if a rider could be attached, blaming Dr Henry for holding a post mortem examination without being ordered to do so by the Coroner. The Coroner said .there could not, as it had nothing to do with the verdict, and read the Act upon the subject.