CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 2 April 1867, Page 6

CORONER'S INQUEST.

A coeonee's inquest was held at the Victoria Motel, Victoria-street, at 3 p.m., yesterday, before Dr. T. 11. Philson, M. D., District Coroner, and a jury of twelve, Mr. S. J. Dennis, foreman, to inquire into the circumstances attending tlie death of Catherine Tims, -who died during Simdaj- night, in a house in Victoria. Lano.

The jury having been duly sworn proceeded to view the body, after which the following evidence -was adduced :—

Martin Tims, deposed: I am a carpenter and joiner, and reside in Victoria Lane. The deceased -was my wife. Her age was between 56 and 57. She has been complaining ol a pain in her left side during the last tenyears. She was in rery good health yesterday. She went away yesterday afternoon returning between 7 and S in the evening by herself. I do not know where she had been. I caanot tell when she left, it might have been between three and four; when she came home she was sober. She leaned against the verandah, and appeared to suffer from a pain in her side. I asked a man named Peter Anderson who was sitting beside me on the box, to assist me in carping deceased in. We brought her in and laid Jier on the bed. She appeared to be sensible, Irut did not complain of anything. X did not tnink slic m £is ill, and did not scud, for n doctor. Slie got up in the middle of the nisht, and drank some coffee. I went to bed in an adjoining room at about S o'clock, and at twentj' minutes to seven this morning I got up and called her. deceiving no answer I went and felt her hand which I found to be cold. I then sent f cry daughter and her friends. I cannot tell what time she died. There was only one man in the house who slept iu a third apartment. "We had .half a-pint of rum bet ween four of us on Saturday evening. _ Deceased had none of it. I communicated with the police this morning. The body hasnot been moved. She did not vomit. She lias often complained of the pain in her side during the last throe weeks, and X have found it necessary to apply remedies. Peter Anderson, deposed : I am a sailor, and while ashore used to lodge with Martin Tims. I came in from the country about noon on Saturday, and went .to Tims' house. The deceased was not at home, but she returned about half an Lour after my arrival. She appeared to be in iter usual health, was sober, and prepared dinner for me. I slept at Tims' on Saturday night. Mrs. Tims was at home the whole night-. I got up at about 7 o'clock on Sunday morning and found that Mrs. Tims had gone out. I saw her again at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. She was coming down the lane by herself, and appeared to be "pretty well on iu liquor." She was staggering about, and Mr. Tims requested me

to help her in. Mr. Tims did not assist ia helping her in. I laid her on the bed. She was then drunk. I went out and returned home at about half past seven and found Mr. Tims and some of the neighbours in the house. I was sober. Air. Tims might have had a glass in at the time, but I could not say that he was drunk. A neighbor named Ilichard Barrett was in the house. Mrs. Tims was not at the house then. At about a quarter of an hour later Mr. Tims said " here is my old woman lying down in the gutter, will you help me in with her." I went out and found her lying just outside in the street. She was helpless, sleeping heavily, and unableto speak. There was no one with her. T assisted Barrett in carrying her to bed. I doll t think she was sober. I went to bed between nine and ten. I heard someone walking up and down on the floor at about daylight this morning. I thought it was Martin; but he told me subsequently that it was deceased. I slept alone. Tims vrcnt to bed at about the same time as I did. I heard Tims calling her between six and seven this morning to get lip and make some coffee. She gave us no answer, and 'lims said. "The old woman is dead." I then went to the bedside, and found Tims holding her hand. She was lying on her right side. I communicated the news to the police. I cannot | give any opinion as to the cause of death. Deceased and her husband lived on amicable terms. When she came home she smelled of something strong : it was not drink. Wheu I came on Saturday I gave her half-a sovereign, which she informed me she gave to him. J'ichard Barrett, a mariner, deposed : I live next door to Mr. Tims, when at home. I have known the deceased during the last three months. I left Tims' house a little after nine in the morning. Mrs. Tims was at home then. 1 returned between 8 and 'J in the evening, and was in the act of entering wiicu I saw the deceased lying just in front of her own door. Mr. Tims requested me to assist in carrying her in. She was breathing heavily. It was too dark to see her face. I assisted Peter Anderson in carrying her in. I perceived no smell of drink. 1 placed her on her own bed. 1 could form no opinion as to whether or not she was sober or drunk. I have seen her the worse for liquor, but not lately. I went to my own house between 8 and 0, and heard of her death this morning between 7 and 8 o'clock.

James Clarke, Sergeant of Police, deposed: At S o'clock this morning I received information of the death of deceased from a mau named Peter Anderson. On arrival at the house I found the deceased lying dressed on her right side on a bed. J Lei 1 face was covered. Tlie features were dark and swollen. I had known her for about a twelve mouth I detected no smell of liquor about tlie body, and observed no marks of violence. I could form no opinion as to the cause of death. I have seen her the worse for liquor about her own house. I last saw her in that state between two and three months ago. I never knew anything against her character.

William Walker, a boy of I I years of age, deposed: My father is a compositor named Alexander Walker. Deceased came into our house at about 0 o'clock in the morning. She sat down on a chair and fell off asleep. She staggered about on being awoke by my mother. She appeared to be drunk. My mother told her to go home, and she did so with the assistance of 1113- mother. At about six p.m. she came again into our house. She appeared to be dnn.k and lie-Id on to the fence. Mr. Tims also came in. JTe was just about half drunk, and asked 1113- father if he would have something to drink. Mr. Tims gave me a shilling to go for half a pint of rum, which I bought at Mr. Mulligan's, the Victoria Hotel. J ceived it frora one of the lodgctts, as Mr. Mulligan was out. I paid one shilling for the rum, which I brought home and gave to Mr. Tims. ITc poured out one glass and gave it to Mrs. Tims, and she drank it. I was sitting beside her when she drank the rum. He gave another glass to a Mrs. Morris and 011 cto 1113father. The fourth he drank himself. Mrs. Tims then fell asleep. She awoke about a quarter of an hour later, and in trying to put her hands on the table, fell on the iloor. My mother advised Mr. Tims to take her home, and he said, " Let her lie." She got up afterwards, and father and mother helped her some distance. She got near her own door, within a few yards of it, when she fell down in the lane. This was about 7 o'clock iu tlie evening. She ■was then dead drunk. I don't know what became of iier subsequently. I Lave very often seen the deceased in liquor. Julward Uoberts Edwards deposed : I have been lodging in the Victoria Hotel. Yesterday Mr. Mulligan asked 111 c to take charge of the place during Lis absence. I did so. I do not remember seeing the last witness yesterday. He did not get a 113' rum from me. I might have sold rum to a boy 3 - esterday. William Wall ter, recalled : I received the rum yesterday from the prescut witness (Edwards). He was in the bar with Mrs. Mulligan.

Edward lioberts Edwards, rc-cxaraincd : I saw tlic doccascd yesterday in the back yard. She appeared to hare beeu drunk oil the previous evening. After a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict, "Died from natural causes, without any marks of violence about licr body." The following rider was added to the verdict : —" The jury are of opinion that much blame is attributable to the husband of deceased in not calling medical aid to his -wife when in an insensible state, and for his negligence throughout." On the verdict being announced, the husband of tlie dec-cased said lie would like to have a post. mortem examination.

The coroner communicated to him the fact that the jury were very dissatisfied with the prevaricating manner in which he had given his evidence.