INQUEST.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9812, 23 August 1897, Page 6

INQUEST.

An enquiry was held at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday at the Hospital before Mr R. Beetham, Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr J. Rhodewas chosen Foreman, touching the death of Edward Parker Barne3. The Coroner explained the case, and the jury viewed the body, after which evidence was called as under:—

Arthur T. Washer stated that he knew the deceased, who had been boarding with witness. He last saw deceased alive between 1 and 2 on Wednesday. He next heard of him about midnight. Two men, Gordon and Gregg, knocked him up and said "Jumbo was dead to the world," or some term, from which ho understood that Barnes was drunk. Thoy asked witness what should be done, and he said he conld not take him in if he were in such a state. He advised them to take him in. a cab back to the hotel. Deceased was single, and forty-one years of age. Witness had a wife and family. C To the Coroner -Deceaced was not a steady man. To the Police—Deceased had complained much of his head and bleeding from the nose. About fifteen or eighteen months ago he had an attack of yellow jaundice. To the Jury—Decsased had never gone home drunk. Witness was never led to think deceased was other than drunk.

Geo. J. Shepperd, manager at Burkes Hotel, stated that on the Wednesday night, about five minutes to eleven, he saw deceased and had seen him twice before, and he was apparently sober. Deceased had complained about pains in the head. Deceased left about five minutes to eleven accompanied by others. The barman had admitted serving him with one drink, and the barmaid with three or four.

Samuel Gregg said he saw deceased last ali-e when he left him in the shed. Witness, deceased, Bush, Walker, and Gordou were at Burkes Hotel together on the Wednesday night. Deceased appeared to be sober at about a quarter past ninv. All remained there till eleven o'clock. Deceased had two drinks, one of which was square gin and soda. He then appeared to be about half tight. Witness and others, except Walker, went away together along Manchester street and Hereford street. Witness went to the social at St. John's with Bush. Gordon and Barnes went through Latimer square. A little later Gordon came back for assistance as Barnes, he said, had collapsed. Wituess went away and found Barnes in Gloucester street propped up against a fence. They went to Mr Washer's and told him about Barnes. Mr Washer asked if he was very drunk, and witness said yes. He said he could not take him in as he would not like his wife and children to see Barnes in such a state. Witness went away, and in half an hour returned with a cab, deceased in the meantime having been on the pavement. Witness asked at Hay ward's stables if they would let a fellow who was drunk sleep in the stable a while, and they said no, he might set the place ou fire. Witness also saw Mr Burnip, who said he could not take him as the house was full. They then put him in a cab and went to Rave—hill's, to a boardinghouse and to Pearce's, but could make no one hear at either place. Then thoy drove slowly down the South Belt. The cabman said that there was a little shed, and if they laid him in there for an hour or two he would get all right. The shed was on the south side of the belt. The deceased was put in the shed. He was fast asleep and snoring. They put him in the shed with his back to the wall. He was placed on some shavings which were there. He had no covering but his overcoat. Witness and the others then went home, and no one was left with deceased, who was not conscious, and had not been from the time witness saw him on the pavement. There was a little blood on his face.

The Coroner —Did you not think it was a dangerous thing to leave a man by himself in that position ?

Witnsss—"No, sir. We thought he was drunk and would soon get over it." To the Police—Witness suggested that if they could get him in nowhere they should take him to the PoKce Station, but the others did not like the idea of taking a friend to the lockup.

Thomas Gordon said the deceased at the hotel seemed tobeabitmuddled. Shortly after 10 p.m. witness and deceased had a glass of beer together. Half an hour later deceased had a gin and soda. When the party left the hotel deceased was staggering. He fell at the corner of Gloucester street and Latimer square when he was parting with witness. With the assistance of a passer-by witness got him on the footpath. Deceased appeared to have grazed his nose from which a little blood trickled. From the time deceased was put on the footpath until he was put in the cab. three-quarters of an hour elapsed. When witness went away for the cab he called at Burkes but could not make anyoue hear. Witness corroborated the evidence as to the failure to get deceased into the places named. The cabman suggested the small shed on the belt. It was dry, and they thought he would be all right when he had had a sleep.

Dr. Diamond stated that about 8.15 am. on Thursday he was taken to a man at the Sydenham Sewage Depot on the South belt. The man was in a shed in an awkward position. He had the man laid out straight and examined him, and concluded he was dying. As the place seemed to be a wretched one for a man to be lying in, he ordered his removal to the Hospital.

William L. Kernahan deposed to being the person who gave Gordon assistance with deceased in Gloucester street. Deceased appeared to be drunk. John Howard, the cabman, gave corroborative evidence. He did not see what the shed was like. The others asked witness if he would put him in his stable. He said he could not, and as they could get him in nowhere, he suggested the shed where they left him. Sergeant-Major Ramsay said he had a number of other witnesses whose evidence was corroborative.

The Coroner said he did not think it would be necessary to coll them.

Dr. Fox deposed that deceased was brought to the Hospital on the 19th at 9 a.m., in a moribund condition. He breathed once or twice. Witness made a pott mortem examination. The deceased showed bruises on his knees, and left hand, and abrasions on the left cheek, brow, and nose. He was considerably jaundiced. The result of the post mortetn showed chronic changes inwardly due to alcoholic tendencies. The stomach contained a deal of alcoholic fluid. Death was due to syncope, the syncopal attack having been brought on by drunkenness.

To the Jury —Had he received medical attention at the time of his fall in Gloucester street tbe syncopal attack might have been overcome, and death might have been staved off, but he must have eventually died, as the organs were extensively diseased. The Coroner said the cause of death was clear fr m the evidence to be chronic drunkenness, ami from the medical evidence he must have died eventually from the chronic changes. As to the history of the case, and the conduct of the men, he (the Coroner) said that the man with whom he had been staying, having a wife and family, could not take him in when he was told that Barnes was drunk. Not being medical men, and knowing nothing of his condition deceased's friends left him in the shed by himself. It was a stupid thing to do, and it. would have been better to take him to the Police Station, where he would have been looked after, though death could only have been staved off as the man was slowly dying. The jury would have no difficulty in finding that death was from syncope, accelerated by his being drunk. Of course the jury, if they liked, could animadvert or express an opinion about the persons who had been in charge, -who acted according to their limited light.. Bnt the}* were young men and thought he merely had a fit of drunkenness, which he would sleep off though he might have "a head " on him next mominjj. Had they been aware of his reaf condition, no doubt they would have taken hira to the Hospital or the Police Station.

The jury, after a few minutes retirement, returned a verdict of "Death from syncope, induced by drunkenness."