CORONERS' INQUEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 985, 15 October 1878, Page 2

CORONERS' INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Saturday last, at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton, on the body of William Oswsll before W. N. Searancke, Esq. Coroner, and the following jury, W. Gumming, (foreman), Jas. Coombes, R. Williamson, Bernard Huckstep, Augustus Vincent, Thomas L°es, E. Wells, M. D. Vivian, William Dodd, D. Gardiner, S. Pascoe. Edward W^ddington being sworn, said : I am a Doctor of Medicine residing m Hamilton. I was called m 'to see the dead body lying m a whare near the river. It was slightly decomposed and appeared to have been dead for several days. I found no marks of violence or injury on it. It was lying m an easy and natural way. Deceased died I believe from apoplexy or from disease of the heart. He must have died instantaneously and darintr sleep. Did not know the deceased previously. Anne Peacock deposed to having known the deceased well for the lasi 12 or 13 years : saw him alive lasl J en Saturday the sth inst. He was then putting up a fence m my paddock ; did not see him again tilt yesterday, when as I was passing hi* whare 1 said to my children I wonder where fc Mr Oswell ? My youngest son Alfred onened the door — and looking m said he is asleep. I then went m and found thai; he was dead and covered up m his bunk with a blanket".. I then gave information to the police. The deceased had complained of illness during the past few weeks. Dr Beale attended him, I don't know whether deceased hasany relations, about a fortnight ago he talked of going home to EnglandBridget Henderson, sworn, said she saw deceased «live on tha Monday morning going towards the punt, bufc not .since. . D. W. ElHytt. deposed to seeing deceased alive on the Moyday evening about 5 o'clock, goin^ towards his house with a loaf and parcel m his hands. William Murray, Police CousUble stationed at Hamilton, deposed to visiting deceased's whare m consequence of information received, and finding the body tying m the bunk m the same state as seen by the jury. There wan no marks of violence on it nor .signs ot' distirrlxmeo about the room. There wore a quantity of provisions m t.hf» hou.se. Mad known' uecfWQd a couple of yp.'uv;. lie was ! a mni of solitary and tomper-ifce '■ habits, 1

, The j u.y aft er a short deliberation returned a verdiofc of "died from j natural cuasifb."