ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12399, 12 January 1901, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

An inquest was held at St Andrews on, Thursday, by Mr W. G. A. Wray, coroner, concerning the death ,of an old man of seventy - six, named Charles Jaul. Deceased, an bid ago pensioner, liyed alone in a hut at St Andrews. A neighbour saw him on Tuesday evening, when he appeared to be in. his usual health, though he had complained earlier in the day of not being well. On Wednesday the same person went across to the hut and found the occupant dead in bed. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned. Deceased was believed to have no relatives in the colonv.

An inquest on the body of Andrew Crystall, a well-known hawker in the, Selwyn district, was held at the King's Hotel, Darjiold, on Tuesday, before Mr Robert Reid, J.P., and a jury of which Mr J. W. Garin was chosen foreman. From evidence given it appeared that the deceased was in the habit of staying with Mr James Sexton, farmer, of Greendnle, when his business took him to that district. Deceased was slaying with Mr Sexton on Sunday night and was suddenly taken ill. He asked Mr Sexton to bring a small llask of whisky, telling him whero to find it- Mr Sexton asked about sending for a. doctor, but deceased said it was no good ; nothing but a Utile whisky would da him any good. Mr Sexton then sent a messenger to got gome, but the latter returned and said he could not wake anyone. up. On making a further trial he succeeded in getting some whisky, but before ho got back the man was dead. Constable Copland had the body removed to the Darfield Hotel. Doctor Howard, who had made a post mortem examination of the. deceased, said in bis opinion death was caused by fatty degeneration of the heart, with enlarged liver, and hydatid cysts. The Coroner addressed the jury, wlm gave a verdict in accordance with the/ the medical testimony. The remains of the deceased were buried in the Grcendale cemetery in the afternoon.