INQUEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 869, 8 January 1878, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest, on the body of Samu Marve*, fonnd floating m the Waikato River on Saturday, was h'l. yes erday afternoon at the Roya Mail, Hotel, Ngaruawahia, befor. W. N. Searancke, Esq. (Coroner) and a jury of household rs. William Heiiry P*»rce liepos-vl tlia he was the landlord of the Com inercial Hotel, Hamilton, and d< ceased had been, lodging at h.• house for the last five or six week up to Saturday. He had been v Auckland for theCliristmashplidajß He lost his tools m the fire a Hamilton, and went on the spre_ m consequence and went to tow th nking to get off the spree, '-nit ' a h s return was the same as betor* . The last he saw of him was at hal:past eleven sitting m the bar. Had frequently, previous to Saturday . n fused drink. Witness had- beef te* nirtde f>r him on several occasions, and did not serve him with any drink on Saturday las • He was a verj quiet man. We did not miss deceased till half-pas». eleven an Saturday night. I recognise the body a.- --■ hat of Samuel Harvey. ; Richard Gwynne, landlord of tin Hamilton Hotel, ifepaqed to decease* coming into his bar between 11 and 12 on Saturday forenoon, and askng tor a glass of brandy, which wa. refused him. He did not appear worse for drink, or m the horrors, bu .• looked flushed, and witness though he had had enough. Decease' usually .bathed m the river m th i afternoon. Witness also identifier the body as (.hat of Harvey. H went away when witness refusic him the brandy, J oh. n. Ansel), a painter, deposed t. Keying decea-ed between 12 and 1 p.m. on Saturday, hnving'hiß ditinei ur the Commerrial H tei. Whe> he was missed at- night; witni's earched for him, v ey was not • !iu.uk when he was. having hi dinner, but looked as well as ever hr •Hid. He was, previous toSaturdny,,. drinking, but not to excess. Deceased was subject to fits. He had a fit only a week before, Ha«= known, years, arid tba' h • was subject to fits. Harvey w«« about 47 years of age. Joseph Highly deposed to .sceim eceased at his dinner on Saturday In witness's opinion, drir.k was thi -cause of I'is llliesa. On Saturdaj he was better than usual. He waton the spree before going to Auckandj and the s*me on his return. Have frequently heard Mr Peam refuse him drink. Deceased appeared to be m low sphits on JSaturd y, md complained of a tendency to fainting fii s. Edward Mr-ssage aho identified the body, and deposed to deceabed being subject to- fits. ■I 1 Hen Macd.iuald, a servant at the Commercial Ho el, deposed fc•eeing deceased last at 3 o'clock o. Saturday afternoon.* He wasst f u.d ing at his bedioom door. with n gyat> bQQtSf or bat, ' Hg' ceeifio^ itt

pain, opened his mouth, and shook his hands. He ap eared as if he would speak, but could not. He then went down stairs.^^SftAggsi did not gee him alive siflf jRH dveaa on the body is the^aajfl le haaff better, aud.miild nSltoJKrk on] Coustablefwrid de^fe^riSnd\u^ he body about 4 miles^above Nga^ ruawabia. The body^Was floating m the mid le of the river with only .he water and not. with the face dp wards. Examined the body care. futly; 1 " but~ootfld^iae€^ni>*-ittatfe»^efei deceased coutained 3s JBd m silyer md a carpenter's. peuciL. His olothmg was not dmrrajigecl <wheu he tiahed him iup^JgfaytyQ^ The Jury, after "* short, cßqsuttaion, returned an open rerdiCD of— ,*f IV>Uua>J|r§wned;? J i .■> j fp | •-