INQUEST AT FIXHILL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 109, 11 May 1867, Page 2

INQUEST AT FIXHILL.

On Friday May 10, au inquest was held by H. Beitt, Esq., J. P. on the body of a man named Johu Nelsou, who was found dead ou the road on Thursday evening May the 7 th.

Mr. Charles Gaukrodger having identified the body, Mrs. Midgley deposed that she was going home on Thursday evening and saw the body lying in the road, and called out "My good mau, you will have the van run over you," but on seeing the pool of blood, she ran back, and informed two men of what she had seen.

Charles Riordon deposed that about dusk on Tuesday evening be heard Mrs. Midgley calling out, and by her directions went to the man along with the ostler of the Foxhill Inn, and found a man lying iu the road on his face, the face beiug in a pool of blood ; he turned the body over ou its back, and it seemed quite dead.

John Gaukrodger deposed that he saw the deceased pass by his house between 5 and 6 o'clock, ou Tuesday evening. He was riding in a dray loaded with bags, and driving the two horses which were drawing it. He no ided to him as he went past and he appeared to be perfectly sober. He did not stop at his house. It was about 20 minutes afterwards that he was made acquainted with the accident. The ostler of the Fox Hill Inn deposed that the body was lying across the road, the feet towards and near the ditch, and the head in the centre of the road. The whip lay about eight paces from the body, and the man's hat not quite so far off.

Ch-irles Gaukrodger recalled, deposed that Wilson was in the dray when he passed his house. He (Wilson) stopped his horses and got out. He went on with his horses, and walked on the near side of -them. He was quite sober. It was exactly 50 paces from the place he btopped near his (Gaukrodger's) house, to where he (Wilson) was found dead, he saw the whip in his hand aud believed he had his hat on.

Dr. Oldham deposed, that he had examined the deceased, and found a large scalp wound on the left side of the head, and a large depression on the right side. The rest of the body was perfectly free from injury. His opinion was that as the man was walkiug beside his cart he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, which caused him to drop his whip, aud then his hat, aud then fall down under the cart-wheel, which passed over his head. He had attended the deceased for hoemorrhage at the nose.

The jury, through their foreman, the Eev. Mr. Tripp, returned the following verdict: — "We find that the deceased John Nelson met with his death from having been attacked by a lit of apoplexy, while walking on the high road, and the dray-wheel going on his head, thereby causing death."