Kaitangata

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 3141, 13 February 1900, Page 5

Kaitangata

5 : (From a Cobreskwdbnt ) INQUEST. .- Am inquest '-was .■ .held at ■ Kaitangatof3>n Friday, touching the death of Henry TTenneu, laborer of Inch Clutha, who was found dead in hit. hut, before Mr F. T. Poole, coroner arid^a, jury consisting of Messrs ShoreMunr). WTOgh/B. Me, an# vs^te||enlo^^ ' ; €onstable Ferguson stated ffiat he was oilled to Inch Clutha on Thursday, and went directly to FennelPs hut. He found the body lying on the right side in the but and stibJißquently had it conveyed to M'CorleyfiraoteL The hub was not in a disturbed state, and there was no broken crockery or blood stains on the floor. The jury when" viewing the body noticed two bruises on the right side of the face, and there was -also a quantity of blood on deceased's clothing. On being further examined, the constable sfci&he did not notice any blooc on the floor of the hut. James Bell, farmer lnohfJlut ha, deposed thathe had known depeaabd. for 12 years. He was a healthy man, bdt waa in the habit of- taking periodical ' Bprees.' He had been ■imbibing freely for about a fortnight prior to hie death* Deceased waa about 60 years of age and had resided in-'tha hut over two years. Cross-examined : Deceased seemed to have Mien between a table aid a barrel Witness last saw him al^ve on Monday morning at 11 o'clock Deceased had been working for Messrs Smaill and Moaley and also a day for witness. The hut where deceased resided was in a disorderly state: when he saw it, and there was also a great; deal of r blood v on the : floor. ; Further ex- ' amined: It was Mr M 'Donald who flrat acquainted him of Fennell's death, ..; He .did not think the cuts on , deceased's head were caused by falling on.the barrel, but thought he must have, fallen against one of ithe sfcudaof the hut. Deceased was always on friendly terms with bis neighbors. Witness had been in deceased's hut since the body was removed and found two stale loaves. , Deceased was quite well when he saw him a fortnight ago. Mr W. H. M'Donald, storeman, Stirling said he last saw deceased alive on February Ist. He was then .partly sober..;- Witness bad known deceased for over two years and was the first to find the body on the Bth inSt., at about 10.45 a m., whereupon he sent for Mr James Bell. ~ The body, which was lying on the left side, was fully dressed, with the exception of the trousers which were slightly down. Ihe hut was. in a very disorderly state, and there was a large quantity of blood on the floor, and alto a little on the side of the bed. Crossexamined : Witness called at deceased's house every week with food, &o. Judging by his appearance he must nave been dead a couple of days. Witness could not say whether last week's provisions were used up or not. Deceased must have fallen while trying to get into bed. Witness did not take any drink to deceased. Dr Fitzgerald after performing a post mortem said that death was due to ulceration and hemorrhage of the stomach. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the doctor's evidence.