Verdict of Accidental Death.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 307, 29 December 1891, Page 5

Verdict of Accidental Death.

NO BLAME ATTACHABLE TO ANY. ONE.

Yesterday afternoon an inqueab on the body of William Maloney took place at the Hospital, before Dr.. Philson (coroner). Mr Thomas Hedger was chosen foreman of the jury. .

Inspector Broham conducted the inquest on behalf of the police, and Mr J. O Meagher was present on behalf of John Kelly, charged with having caused Malouey's death.

The 'firsb witness was James Hawkins, licensee of the Queen's Hotel. He deposed to knowing deceased for 5 or 6 years. Kelly and deceased came to his hotel about half-past seven on Saturday evening. Both men were drunk and asked for liquor, but he refused and ordered them to clear home.; He was called to tea, and left ,the men in the bar parlour. Alter an interval of 5 or 6 minutes he beard a noise of falling, chairs and tables. He went, in , and saw John Kelly , holding an old man named Watte by the throat. He weufc between them and got Kelly away towards the door. He saw deceased run at Watts and catch him by the throat. McPhee, a lodger, now came in and he put Kelly out, while witness put Watts outside the Symonds-street door. .There was a Mr Chiirton and his wife in the room. They were slightly under the influence of drink. McPhee was sober, but Watts was drunk. The men insisted on returning to the hotel. ■ Kelly and deceased were wrestling at the doorstep. They, were both beastly drunk, but showed no ill-feeling , towards each other. Kelly's foot caught the door mat, and they fell together. Witness then went in .behind the bar. About half-past nine he saw deceased lying on the hotel floor, and.he informed Constable Haelett that the man appeared to be very ill. He did not see a struggle, or any blows in the room in which Churton and hie wife were sitting. Witness, believed that a young man named James McEwan was amongst those present. Mr Hawkins was cross-examined by Mr O'Meagher, and said the men did not appear on unfriendly terms. He did sot think the wrestling of Kelly and Maloney was unfriendly. The kerbing where Maloney fell in front of the door was of wood. In answer to Mrßroham, Hawkins said only himself and McPhee were present when the struggle took place between the two men at the doorstep. Dr. Girdler deposed when he saw Kelly at the hotel he was quite unconscious. There were no marke of. violence on the head or on any part of the body. Witness stated at a post mortem examination of the body the doctors saw a largo bruise with extravasation of blood between the scalp and tbo : skull cap. A fracture of the ukullthreeincheain extent wus found behind the right ear, with a slight depression. The brain itself was not injured, nor was there any fracture on the base of the skull. Death was caused by pressure on the brain, the clot of blood having been caused by a rupture of the lateral sinus. This would probably have been caused by a fall, but it could have occurred through a blow. The Bpine was nob injured. . Dr. Lewis and Dr. Somervell, house surgeon at the Hospital, gave evidence. Daniel McPhee, traveller for a Dunedin firm, living at the hotel, gave evidence. Witness was having his tea when Mrs Hawkins asked him to go into the bar parlour and separate Mr Hawkins and some men who were , , qua,relling. into the room and assisted Mr Hawkins to put Kelly and deceased out of the room, arid they shoved them down the passage. Mr Hawkins opened the folding door, and just as- deceased and Kelly got through it, they stumbled over a door mat. Witness went to look for the police, and on returning found Kelly in the hotel passage and persuaded him to leave. He refused, and said he could defend himself ?f the police cam 9. He did not see the Churtons in the room.

At this stage the inquest was adjourned till this morning.