CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 243, 23 August 1864, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held at noon, yesterday, in the Aurora Tavern, on the body of Kobert Millis, n labourer, residing in Chapel-slreef.

Catherine Miilis, being sworn, said : I am the I widow of deceased, and live in Chapel-street. On Saturday afternoon, August 20th instant, about ■! o' clock, deceased being the wors-! for liquor, went to bed in his own house; this was his custom when he was drinking. I was engaged ill my household alliiirs, and did not go into the bedroom until ten o'clock at night-. I then found deceased silting on Ihe side of the bed, his head bent-forward. T immediately went, to him and raised his bend, when ] saw that his face was black, bis head and shoulders were cold. I spoke to liini but received no answer. 1 called my son John to come to my assistance in laying deceased in the bed, but wo soon saw that he was dead. There was no blood about his person. AI y son-in-law (John Sakcy) and a lodger (Henry Hawkins) also eairie in and saw that deceased was dead. Dr. Bond was sent for, and confirmed our opinion. Deceased was a pensioner, but always lived in Auckland. He was n labourer, working wherever lie could get a job. JI is age was 05 years, lie laid been 12 years in Auckland. His habits were intemperate, but. his health was usually very good. For the last six weeks he complained of uneasiness in tho region of the stomach. On Saturday, the 20th instant, he seemed in his ordinary health ; lie went out in tho morn iug to hear the cases tried in the liesident Magistrate's Court. He came home to his dinner at ball'-past twelve o'clock. Jln had a few glasses of grog in him at that. time. Ho did not drink any move after he came homo to dinner. Ho sat at the kitchen fire from one o'clock to four p.m. "When I say that deceased was in liquor, I do not mean that he was insensible or incapable, in fact I think he was less intoxicated than 1 had often seen liini in times pastAfter ho went into tho bed-room at four o'clock, until I saw him again dead, at ten p.m. I heard no noise. I did not hear any snoring noise. This door of the bed-room was shut; deceased was alone. I cannot say how long ho bad been dead when I saw him.

John Sakcy, heing sworn, Kiid : I am a carpenter, irsifliti£jf in Chapel-street, ;i low doors iiom tlie lust witness, f- am son-in-law to deceased and last witness. I was in deceased':; house on Saturday last, August 2fJth inst., between (lie liours of nine and ton p.m., wlien it was discovered liy last witness that her husband was (lead. Mrs. Millis called mo out of the kitchen into tlic bed-room. T found deceased laid on his hack in the ljed. lTis face was darkish, there was some frothing at the mouth. I did not tee auv blood. The body was warm, but the limbs were rolil and slid'. I soul, for some brandy lo rub the body with, also for a medical man. IV. Bond came and pronounced him (deceased) lo be dead. Deceased was an industrious man, taking a. glass occasionally hut not to excess. I had not seen him for several days previous to the day of his death. ] think he may have been in the habit of getting drunk once a weelc on an average. .Tohn Scott, being sworn, said : I am a sergeant in the Auckland Police, and am on duty in Auckland. Yesterday, Sunday, August 21st., instant, I was informed by Sergeant Molloy, who was on night; duly, of the death of deceased. I went to the house in Chapel-street, and saw the dead body. I knew deceased upwards of nine years. lie was a man of

intemperate habits, and was repeatedly in tho'lock-up lor drunkenness. Joseph Francis Bond, being sworn, said: lama Ail < l ua^e d modical practitioner, residing in Auckland. Between thu hours of 10 o'clock and Un °n Si f • n ?-. on Saturday, August 20th, instant, I was .called to visit deceased at his house in Chapel-street: on nrn val, I found him lying on his back 011 his bed. ♦ ■i l ' l ' oß v, ' uro natural, the body was cold and »1 . I here was no froth about his mouth, but I pei(erred a stale smell of drink and tobacco about as pcvKi..u. l think that death took placo by u o _ c: ' ! *' r,n > r v °d"ccd l>y the position assumed bv drink* under tho inllucnce ut inliurfcnliiig Verdict: "Died from oxcessivo drinking."—One of the jury dissenting.