CORONIAL INQUIRIES.

Lake County Press, Issue 498, 14 April 1892, Page 3

CORONIAL INQUIRIES.

ACCIDENTAL DE \TH AT SKIPPERS.

An inquest was held at Skippers Point on Saturday, tho 9th inst., before C. C. Boycs Euq., coroner, and a jury of sis (of whom Mr B. R'gors was chosen foreman) on the body of John B 11, of Skippers C.cck, who was found lying in the Roaring Meg, Skippers, dead, tho supposition being that deceased had fallen over tho cl ff above. Constable Wake conducted the inquiry. Samuel Graham, in his evidence, dep >sed that dec-ased was caretaker of a race situated at Skippers Creek and belonging, to the Londonderry Sluicing Company, lie was with deceased on the night of tho S f h inst. at Mrs M‘Arthur’s hotel, and deceased 1-ft him at 1 a.m. on the 9th inst. to g> to tarn thc^water on at the race. Deceaa-al vrrs nt under the influents of liquor, but had had one or two drinks. Saw deceased ag-tin about? a.m. lying at the fo t of a cliff 30ft high in a crcok known as the Ro ring Meg. Deceased was dead. Know the deceased for

jvop 30 ye:ir«, and never hnaw him to hav» my enemies. Deceased came from the West Coast about three years ago. Thought theplace deceased had fallen over w»« a danger' ous place. Constable Wake said he ha 1 examined the body and found a hole in the centre of the: forehead cb >ut lin long and £in broad ; thenose and rno.ith weio also slightly bruised, the b uses could bo attributed to a fall on a. rough surface. Could discover nothing: about the body to suggest foul pi iy. Had made inquiries and found deceased was very popular about the district, and had no enemies. His watch had stopped at 1.4(> a.m. The jury return'd a verdict that deceased mot hin death by falling o.«.- a cliff while aitonding to bis duties at the race, and. added a rider to the effect that handrails* should be erected at the dangerous parts of the race. SHIPPING COMPANY’S FBANKTON GOODS SHED. An inquiry was held at the Council Chambers, Queenstown, on Tuesday last, bsfor'* C. C. Boyes, Eaq., coroner,'and a jury of si* (of whom Mr H. Upsdale wu chosen foreman) touching the origin of the fire that took pl ies at Franktou on February 15 last', when tha goods-ahed and part of the jetty belonging to the W&katipu S.S. Company were destroyed by fire. Sergeant Nickle. conducted the inquiry. Messrs' Geiaow, J. W. Robertson W_ Logan and Gibb give evidence, which was of the same nature that we published in our issue just after the fire. Nothing frssh wss elicited. The jury returned a verdict—That there was no evidence to show the origin of the fire and added a rider—That it was absurd to hold an inquiry when so little evidencewas forthcoming as to its origin. The Coroner, in reply to a juror, stated that it was the sergeant of police who instituted the inquiry.