INQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 1886, 5 January 1867, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday, at 4 p.m., at the Albion Hotel, Colombo street, before Mr J. W. S. Coward, the coroner of the district, on the body of John Edward Darby. Mr F. Bishop was chosen foreman of the jury. Sergeant-Major Pardy stated that at 12.30 a.m., on Tuesday, January 1, he was op duty near Coker'g Hall. He met the deceased coming out of the hall. Deceased, who was sober, stated that he had been boxing with the glores. He did not complain of having received any injury. Witness never again saw him alive. J. E. Cokcr deposed that he knew the deceased. At 11.30 p.m. on Monday hemet the deceased at the Criterion Hotel. After some conversation, deceased proposed a fencing match between himself and witness. He afterwards spoke of boxing. All the party present went to Coker's Hall, where deceased put on the gloves and sparred with several persons. He never was knocked down. He had on the gloves for about halt-an-hour, and refused to desist, although urged to do so. He was in a good temper, and did not complain of any unfairness. He was sober. Witness was in his company for nearly an hour afterwards. Witness first heard of his illness on Tuesday afternoon, and was with him when he died. Witness did not hear him make any complaint with respect to drink. Witness asked him if he was in pain. He replied in the negative, hut stated' that e w fl s a bad at- | tack of fever. He was sensible at intervals. The sparring was a perfectly friendly match.

Mr H. W. Bead stated that he was acquainted with the deceased. He was with him at Coker's Hall on Monday evening. He was not sober. About half-end-half; half tight. He was able to take care of himself. WiN nesssawthe sparring. [Witness corroborated the testimony of the last witness,] Witness left the hall before the deceased did so. The deceased came into the Criterion Hotel. Deceased offered to return to the hall, and spar with another man. The deceased appeared drowsy, and witness and some others roused him, and witness accompanied him home. On thoir way deceased complained of a violent pain in his head, which witness attributed to the effects of drink and .excitement. He asked witness to see his wife. They entered the house, and deceased fell asleep on a sofa. Witness left, and the next time he saw him was on the following day, after dinner. Witness went to the house and saw deceased, who was lying on the bed. His eyes were closed; he was breathing, but appeared to be partially insensible. He recognised Mr Coker, and called him by name. This was all that witness heard him say. W. Davis corroborated the evidence of the previous witnesses. He considered that the deceased was not sober when he came to the hotel. When he returned to the hotel from the hall he was very much flushed, and perspiring freely. He made no complaint of any kind. He drank part of a bottle of lemonade. Ho afterwards had some brandy and sodawnter. E. Darby, the wife of the deceased, was called, and stated that when he left the house, at 9 o'clock on Monday evening, he was in good health and spirits. He was quite sober. He returned home about 1 a.m. His eyes were blood-shot, and he complained of the pain in his head. He lay upon a couch. She bathed his head. He never was quite sensible afterwards. On Wednesday he gave her an incoherent account of the sparring. He said that George McKercher had taken a mean advantage of him as he (deceased) was out of breath when McKercher struck him onthe head. He said that he had had a drink at the Criterion which had affected him, but he refused to tell her the name of the man who had given him the drink. She left him on the couch and went to bed. On Tuesday morning, at 7 a,m., he was lying in the same position ; he was insensible.. She did not send for a doctor, as she thought he was only suffering from a drunken fit. Dr Deamer saw him about 1 p.m. on the same day. He prescribed for deceased, and witness gave him some of the medicine ordered, Dr Deamer saw him again. Dr Turnbull came also to see him. A blister was applied to his neck. He continued to get worse, and died on Thursday, at 12.30 p.m. She complied with the medical instructions. Dr Deamer having given up the case, Dr Prins came and saw the deceased, and ordered the deceased's head to be shaved, and some other measures to be taken. She believed that the reason why the medical gentlemen had given up the case was because they understood that their directions were not carried out. G. McKercher corroborated the evidence previously given with regard to the sparring at Coker's Hall. Witness sparred with him with the gloves on. This was at the request of the deceased. He did not make any comprint. He said " Play light." I struck him, and he said, " That was a hot one." He hit me on the nose, causing it to bleed, and we did not spar any more. When witness parted from him, he was in perfect health. The blow he complained of was on the side of the face. He had been previously sparring. W. Deamer, M.D., stated that on Tuesday, at 3.30 p.m., he was sent for to see the deceased. He found him in bed lying on his back. He was in a comatose condition, but could at times be roused. He could not describe the cause of his illness. Ho (witness) examined his head, but found no bruises or marks of violence. The pupil of his right eye was dilated and insensitive to light. The left was not so much dilated and more sensitive to light. Witness applied mustard poultices to the soles of his feet, and leeches to his temples. Witness thought him in such an unsatisfactory state, that he wished to have further advice. Dr Turnbull then saw

him. Witness saw him again on Wednesday morning, at 9 a,m. Deceased appeared to be more sensible than on the previous day. He uaid that he had no pain in his head. Witness ordered a blister to be pus on the back of his neck, and prescribed some powders. Witness told Mrs Darby to keep him quite quiet, and not to allow any one to see him. He ordered the treatment to be continued. Witness was called in again, and was told that deceased had had a convulsion. ' Dr Turnbull and himself had warned those in attendance that if he was not kept quiet, he would have convulsions. Finding that his orders were not attended to, witness declined to have anything more to do with the case, and saw him no more. Brandy and sodawater and brandy had been given to him, which had strictly been forbidden. Witness, Dr Turnbull, and Mr Powell made a post-mortem examination of the body yesterday. The organs of the chest and stomach were quite healthy. There was a slight discolouration over one of the eyes. On removing the upper portion of the skull they found a clot of blood under the dura hater, weighing probably four ounces. The clot of blood was pressing upon the brain. Witness attributed the cause of death to tho rupture of a vessel on the brain. He considered that it was caused by excitement. A verdict of "Death from natural causes" was returned.