INQUEST.—SUDDEN DEATH.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1964, 2 November 1863, Page 4

INQUEST.—SUDDEN DEATH.

An inquest was held on the 30th in the hospital, Dairy, befme C. Melkop Esq , coroner, on the body of John Barrett, who died suddenly on Thunday, October 29. The following jury were sworn :— Messrs. Morgan (foreman), Jones, Philips. Morris, Rhodes, Blake, Cosxey, Cossey, Wooclbudge, Gilpin, fisher, and FJetchpr. Richard Hawes : I am trumpeter of the Royal Artillery. I have seen the body of deceased and identify it a* that of John Barrett, gunner, of the Royal Artillery. He was about thirty-eight years of age. I was sitting in my tent yesterday, about a quarter to two o'clock, when John Barrett came ; in. He began to speak sliar'p to one of the men about his carbine being pulled about. He began coughing. He then went outside and began to vomit. He called for one of the men to fetch him a rlfink of cold tea. He called for the doctor, and then fell down and died. He was quite sober. He hud been a convalescent about four or five days. He He complained of rain in his che&t at nights. He was in the habit of drinking. Charles McCarthy : I belong to the Royal Artillery. I knew the deceased, who was a gunner in the Royal Artillery. At a quarter to 2 yesterday I was in a tent with deceased. I heard him talking very loud about his carbine to one of the men. He then commenced to cough, and went outside the tent door and tried to vomit. He called for a drink of tea, which was given him by one of the men. I dout know if he drank any of it. He then fell down. 1 called out for a doctor. Another man an I went for the doctor, but could not tiud him. When we returned, deceased was dead. I have known dacca-cd for four or five years. He appeared to be a healthy man till the last eight or nine days when he took cold and was relieved from duty. He drank very bard for some days before he was tick— ten days ago. During the period I have known him, he would drink hard occasionally, but I do not consider him to havo been an habitual drunkard. George W. Peak, sworn, said : lam surgeon of the 18th Eoyal Irish. I have viewed, and held a post mortem examination on- the body of John Barrett, and the immediate cause of his death was the rupture of a large blood-vessel in the abdomen. I cannot positively state the immediate cnuse of the rupture. The ordinary garrison duties of gunner, coupled with habits of intemperance, may havo been a predisposing cause. I saw him on his way to the hospital. He had been then dead about five or six minutes. Verdict. — That the deceased came to his death by the rupture of a blood-vessel in the abdomen.

Honour to thh^ Dead, and Reujf to the Lrma.— Meiin. Sit. George, Foster, and Deane, who state in their programme that they have just arrived from the South of England, are to give an entertainment thi» evening, in the Odd Fellowi' Hall, "in aid of the widowi and orphan* of thrir late townsmen who have fallen in the preient Wftr." The object being philanthropic, there will, no doubt, be a good attendance.