THE SUDDEN DEATH AT CAM BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2941, 21 May 1891, Page 2

THE SUDDEN DEATH AT CAM BRIDGE.

TIIE INQUEST. Thk inquest upon the body of Malachi Feelian was held at the Criterien Hotel on Tuesday at 4 p.m. by Mr W. M. .Searancke, Coroner. The following were the jury : Messrs Dickenson (foremin) F. W. Browning, C. Potterton, J. M. Hally, 11. W. Westby and It. Fawcett. After the jury had viewed the body, Mary Theresa Murphy was examined and deposed that deceased stayed at her house on Sunday night and liad breakfast on Monday morning. After breakfast ho appeared sleepy and he went into her husband's workshop and lay down on some shavings. He did not complain of being unwell. .She next saw deceased about 1.30 p.m , at which time he was sitting with Ins back against tho carpenter's bench. She asked him to come and havo some dinner, but as he did not reply she put, her hand upon his forehsail and found it was almost cold. She at once brought Dr. Cushney, who pronounced life extinct. She had known deceased 13 years. She had never known him to havo fits, but had heard of him having had several bad ones. He was a heavy drinker and had been during the whole time she had known him. By tha foreman : He was drunk when he came to my houso on Sunday. He had a wound on his face, which he said had been caused by a fall. He was naturally a quiet man and would not fight with any one.

Dr W. A. Cushney deposed that he knew deceased and last saw him at 2.50 p.m. on Monday. At that time tho body was qui to c»ld, and deceased must fiave been dead at least two hours. He had frequently attended deceased for epileptiform fits. He examined tho body but found no marks of violenco. He thought deceased had a fit and died in consequence of assistance not being at hand. Ho thought the tits would arise from excessivo drinking, of which deceased had periodical bouts. Constable Brennan was also examined and deposed that he had known deceased for nearly twenty years. During the last twelve years he had periodical bouts of drinking, but otherwise ho was a most inoffensive man. He searched the clothes upon deceased and found a watch and chain, and £2 3s 3d in silver, and several other articles. Ho believed deceased had relatives in the colony, but he did not know where.

By tho foreman : At tho time of deceased's death there was a prohibition order against him. The jury then returned a verdict that deceased met his death through suffocation caused by an epileptic fit, brought on by excessive drinking. A rider to the following effect was added : The jury also blamed those who had supplied deceased with drink whon a prohibition order was taken out against him, as they felt sure the publicans had endoavourod to prevent deceased from getting intoxicants.