INQUESTS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8989, 31 December 1894, Page 3

INQUESTS.

The inquest on the body of the woman Emily Pike was resumed at the 'Star and Garter Hotel at 11 a.m. on Saturday, before Mr Bishop, coroner, and jury. Inspector Brohani said that the police had searched for witnesses since the adjournment—One Annie Cassidy saw deceased at the Clarendon at half-past eight on Christmas Eve, oue Larseo saw her at 12.30 a.m. on tho Birbadoes street bridge, and Philip Marsh met her at 5.30 o'clock on Christmas morning opposite the Criterion. Mr Wake, amen ber of the jury, said he had heard it was re ported that the constable who put him on the jury had got into trouble for doing J so. He (Mr Wake) brought the matter; forward as ho wished to know whether one holding the views he did was to be debarred! from sit-tiDg on a jury. The Coroner said he did not know Mr Wake until the opening of the inquest, and so far as he (the Coroner) could say Mr Wake was as eligible, as any other man. Mr Wake asked that the Inspector should be questioned. ••. | • • luspector Broham said be did not think this was an inquiry to investigate into police disciplined II it was The Coroner said it was not.

Inspector Broham said that in that case he would say that the constable had been asked why he put Mr Wake on the jury. An order had been issued by Colonel Hume that anyone closely connected with licensing matters should not be put on juries, lie (Mr Broham) considered it an order that should cut both ways, and for that reason the constable had been asked why Mr Wake was placed on. The Coroner said he, as a Magistrate and citizen, regretted to see how matters were trending. If Mr Wake had any complaint to make against the Inspector, the proper course was to place it before his senior. He had known Mr Broham for some years, and could teatify to his sense of fairness. Mr Wake said he would like an opinion as to whether one holding extreme prohibitionist views was to be debarred from being placed on a jury. The Coroner was of opinion that it was desirable to have on a jury men who were likely to come to a true verdict on the evidence. He saw no object to be gained in getting evidence that the woman died through driuk, unless it were to try to sheet home the supply of it to some person or persons. Inspector Broham said he musir say that Mr Wake had in a measure forced himself on the constable to get placed on the jury. In the past certain prohibitionists had gone to the police to be put on juries. The experience was new to him, but as lone as he was in the force he intended to do as he had hitherto endeavoured to do obtain men of moderate views.

The Coroner said that the matter had been so far ventilated and there for the present must end. . Dr. Hunt, who made a post mortem examination, stated that the body was well nourished. There : were no marks of violence, except a slight abrasion over one of her eyes. The organs of the body were normal, the liver excepted, which was slightly enlarged. Lungs and heart bore the appearance consistent with death by drowning. The stomach contained beer and spirit. Asphyxia wasjthe cause of death. Philip Marsh, who had known deceased about seven years, said, he last saw her alive about 5.15 a.m. on Christmas Day, near the Criterion Hotel. He had conversation with her, after which she went away through the Times right-of-way. She ivas perfectly sober. Annie Cassidy, deposed to having a drink with deceased at the. Clarendon between half-past eight and nine o'clock on Christmas Eve. ' She left deceased a few minutes later in Worcester street-.'

Charles Laraen deposed to seeing deceased about 12.30 a.m. on Christmas Day near the Barbadoes street bridge. He saw the body taken out of the river and it was dressed like the woman he saw near the bridge. When he saw her alive she was drunk.

Other evidence was called that threw no further light on the case. The jury, after several minutes' consultation, returned a verdict of "Found drowned." * An inquest was, held at the-Ashburton Hospital bu Saturday afternoon/before the Hou. Major Steward, touching the death of John McLeary. - man, about forty years of age... From the evidence of a number of witnesses it appears that McLeary, who was under the influence of liquor, drove with William Ross to Tinwald to enter a horse for the races. On the way back, at about V IL3O p.m., McLeary suddenly took the reins from Ross and pulled the horse up Short, JbSth meg being thrown but of the !trap ab the north end of the traffic bridge. Ross wast stunned,, and McLeary sustained a : r»asty cut_ over the eye. Ross, on recovering, went away to his hotel, McLeary, saying he would follow later on. * At six'o'clock the next morning, deceased Was seen by Frank Allan. .Allan saw, him again at 11 a. hi., and took him two lots of whiskey. From -this- time deceased appears to have lain exposed to the broiling sun till about four o'clock in the afternoon, when he was seen by 0. M. Brooke and Mr Brooking. Deceased appeared to be in a fit, and Mr Brooke waßhed his face, put a fodder sack under his head, and subsequently sent for the police, who took McLeary to Dr. Trevor's house, and then to the hospital. He was then in a dying state, and expired in an hour afterwards. Dr. .Trevor, the hospital surgeon, who.had attended deceased, and subsequently made a post mortem ol the body,f ound the brain and lungs congested, aud said this was the immediate cause of death, and that if deceased had been drinking, si the evidence seemed to show, the congestion would'have resulted from the com-, bined influence of the alcohol and exposnre to the sun. The jury returned a verdict that death was caused by congestion resulting from an accident and subsequent exposure to the sun. '

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) . DUNEDIN, December 29. At the inquest on instable .ohnston a verdict of " Suicide while temporarily insane ; ' was returned.