CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 719, 5 March 1866, Page 5

CORONER'S INQUEST.

As inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at two o'clc-rk, at the Globe Hotel, Wakefleld-etreet, before Dr. Philaon, corofier, on view of the body of George Robinson, who was found dead in his bed on Friday morning last. The jury hare viewed the body, the following evidence was taken :— Edmund Denlsy, deposed: lam a plumber residing in Wakefield-street. I have known decejsed about nine month 3. He was a tinsmith. I think his age would bo about 35 years. He lived in our house for tho last month. On Thursday evening lust on the occasion of my partner's birthday, wo had our supper about half-past six. Doceased wus with us. He ate a hearty meal. After that wo sat together until about eleven o'clock, and during that time we drank some brandy. Deceased seemed to be enjoying himself all the evening, and on one or two occasions he got up and danced. About eleven o'clock we all got up, and deceased in attempting to rise, fell down backwards on tho floor. Wo lifted him up and helped him to bed —where he now lies. He was quite sensible and spoke to us rationally. Ho did not complain of beins? hurt. He was drunk wnen we put him to bed. We all left the room and went into the back 3*ard, leaving deceased alone, where we stood talking for about half an hour, and then went to bed. William Lister, Charles Davis, William Lewth slept in the adjoining room. On going into our room we had occasion to pass through the room whfre deceased was sleeping. X did not look at him particularly. I heard him snoring after I went to bed. He had no coat on, but was dressed in his trowsers and shirt. I soon went to sleep, and did not awake till about half-past eight tho next morning. .All the other men were in the room when I got up. I heard no noise during the night. X dressed, and went into the next room, where I saw deceased. He looked very white, and I remarked it to William Lister. He was lying on his light side just as we had left him. I went up to him, and touched him on the forehead, and found him cold. I called to Lister, and said, "He appears to be dead " They all got up directly, nnd came into the room, and I immediately went for Dr. Home. X brought him j back with me, and then went and gave information to the police. Ho had drunk about three glasses of brandy that evening. He . was a stout man, with a particularly short neck. He was of intemperate habits. Previous to his coming to us, a month ago, he had been working at a public-house at Pokeno. I have nover seen him drunk since he lived with us. He had had no quarrel with any of us that l day. j William X-istfr deposed: lam a practical engineer, and live in Wakefield-street. I have known decea«ed about five months. The evidence of this witness was corroborative of that of the last, and added that deceased had informed him that he formerly belonged to the H. 8.1. Company's navy, and subsequent to his disolmrge had been in Queensland. He had no effects. James Herbert Home deposed: lam a medical practitioner residing in Grey-street. lam a licentiate of the Apothcaries Company in London. I was called by tho first witness to visit deceased a little after nine o'clock on Monday morning. I returned with him immediately, and on my arrival I found tho deceased lying dead on a sofa on his right Bide, precisely in the same position as he was when the jury saw him. The posture of the body was perfectly natural. He had evidently died without.struggle and without pain. There was no indication of convulsion. Nothing liad beon thrown up, not was there any oozina from the mouth or now. Tkttt «r»w act m*rk» e? yislwjw oft the feod?, 1

heard the evidence given by the previous witness, nnd judging from what I havo heard and what I saw, My opinion is that the cause of tho death of doccased was caused by appoplexy, induced by excessive drinking. There wcro no constriction about the neck, and ho lmd evidently died without a struggle. When I saw him first he must have been dead quito four hours, as all the big joints were stiff. Ido not think there is the slightest necessity for a post-mortem examination. The jury returned tho following verdict" That, tho deceased died on Friday morning last from all attack of appople.xy, brought on by excessive drinking*' . ... .. .. .