INQUEST.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 329, 25 June 1875, Page 3

INQUEST.

Art inquest was held at the Police Camp on .Monday last, before H W. Robinson, Ksq., District Coronor, on view of the body ot William Beaver, who died in the lock up on the morning of the 21st irist. William Tredgold Kirby, storekeeper, Nas'eby: Knew deceased, and last saw 1 him alive on Sunday morning between 11 and 12 in the lock-up at .Naseby. Deceased did not know me. Have been there on several occasions to bring him beef tea, &c. He was in bed. Saw him again at one o'clock When I saw him at 11 o'clock he appeared to be better, than when I last saw him. Had been supplying Light nourishment to him since the previous Sunday week. Had seen hirnin bed at Mr Vickery's several times during the week. Saw Dr. Whitton in attendance upon him on Thursday nt his cottage. It was the same day that he was taken to the lock-up. •lames Murdoch, police constable, Baid : Knew the deceased William Beaver. Last saw him alive ten minutes past eleven last night at the lock-up. He was in bed. Asked him if he were getting better. Said he was, but very weak. Said nothing further. Had two or three pair of double blankets, and a rug and a straw rnattrass. He appeared to be quite warm. Think he was quite fit at the time to be left by himself. Spoke sensibly, and appeared to be getting better. When I saw him again at. seven o'clock this morning, with constable Nolan, he was dead. Is'olan called me. Was then covered with the clothes. The gaoler had seen him previously. He wag careless about keeping the clothes

abollt hiin since he had been in the lockup. Never complained of cold. Patrick Nolan, gaoler, Naseby : , Knew deceased. Was given into «ny charge on the 17th. Was brought as being of unsound mind. Was given into custody. Was out of his mind when brought in. Did not recognise me. Had known me before. Did not know people about him until yesterday morning. Slept well on Sunday. Opened the. door, and allowed the sun to .shine upjn him, to warm him and air the cell. .Remained in attendance upon him about three and a-half hours in the forenoon, During all that time he was sound asleep. At one p.m. brought him toast and beef tea. He drank the beef t< a. Pressed him to eat the toast, but he would hot, Said—You're a kind good fellow ; I will eat it in the morning ; don*t press me to eat it now. At 6.30 brought him a mug of coffee and some buttered toast. He ate two rhouthfuls of toast, and drank the coffee. Would take no more Said he felt tired, and would like to sleep. On Sunday he appeared to be more rational. At 11.10 p.m went into the eell in company with constable Murdoch.. He slightly raised his head, and asked—Who's there? Said—'Tis I, Beaver, how do you feel ? Said—Much better, thank you ; I am getting all right again. Asked the time. Told him it was late. Said did not think it was late Pressed him to eat, but he declined. Said he would.be all right in the morning. Had been taking medicine. On night of 17th gave him draught under direction of the doctor. Gave him a second draught at nine pm., also by direction of the doctor., as he did not sleep. On the following morning gave him a powder about seven o'clock. Same night gave him another sleeping draught, after having seen the doctor. Sergeant M'Nally sent me twict to ask the doctor if he might give him brandy. Would not allow him to have any. Doctor said that he had had him right once but had given him brandy and put him wrong again. This was before he oame to the lock-up. Oh Saturday, about 8.30 gave him, by doctor's orders, another sleeping draught. The doctor ordered this on my asserting his not having slept. I made his bed down, and placed him lying on it. Covered him with two : pairs of double blankets and a rug, and tucked his monkey jacket round his feet. . This was thelfirat time he lay down, the previous sleeping draughts having rio effect. Slept well on Saturday night. Found him properly covered in the morning (Sunday). Gave him a pill. When I saw him.last at 11 o'clock p.m. he appeared to be getting"rational. When. I went to the cell at J a.m.. this morning found him dead, lying on his right side. The clothes were . not disarranged. He wa3 covered up, as though he were asleep. The Doctor visited him at noon yesterday in the lock -up. I reported to the sergeant that he was dead.

Thomas Bain Whitton • am a legally qualified medical practitioner in Naseby, and knew the deceased. Have attended him about a week. 1 was treating, him for delirium tremens. First saw him at the cottage next Vickery the butcher's. Prescribed for hiin there on Tuesday. Next morning was pretty well. Saw hiui again on Wednesday. He was then suffering from acute mania. Recommended that he should be removed to the police camp. The gaoler called on me and told •me. the deceased's symptoms, and' stated that he was conducting himself wildly. Prescribed him sleeping draught, which consisted of tincture of opium 1 and tincture of foxglove—that was all it contained—to be taken in two equal doses if one failed to operate within two hours. Gaoler saw me again on Friday. Came to me after the Court was over in reference to deceased. Asked me if would allow 1 deceased brandy. Ordered beef tea, milk; and such things. Gaolor saw me again the uext day and again asked about brandy.. I again refused. Beported deceased to be in same state. In the evening prescribed a larger quantity of the previous draught, and a pill to be taken in the morning. Saw the deceased on Sunday. The gaolor told me he had given him the medicine. Heard that he had slept well. When I saw deceased on Sunday he was more rational. Thought him then in a fairway to recover. Have made a 'O'st mortem examination of the body. Upon entering the cell tound the body lying on the back—right arm extended, and mouth open. Found no external marks, except sofrie bruises on the elbows. These I think were occasioned in the cell. Opened the brain and found a quantity of serum in. the cavity of the skull. Found the marks of old inflammation in the dura mater—outer covering of the brain, in the shape of little globules. There was actual inflammation of the interior coating of the brain of old standing, but recently filled with effused bl'iod. Examined the heart and lungs and found , them congested. The cause of death I at . tribute to the sudd :n effusion of blood into a cavity on the right sphere of the brain There, were also old adhesions of the lungs. The state of health of the deceased would, from the causes stated, be weak, and death liable to ensue. Forbade brandy being given, believing deceased to have passed that stage wherein it would have been advisable to give it. I draw a distinction between delirium tremens and the mania under which the deceased was laboring. Trejury returned a verdict of died from congestion of the brain. The following rider was attached:—The jury desire to express an opinion that the lock-up—to which the deceased was necessarily for safety conveyed, and wherein he died—is wholly unsuited to cases such as the present ; and that, even as a place of ordinary confinement, it is utterly unfit and insufficient.