CORONER'S INQUESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4481, 24 March 1876, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

THE LATE. FATAL ACCIDENT IN HOBSON-STREET.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon in the Freeman's Hotel, Freeman's Bay, before Dr. Philson and a jury of thirteen, of whom Daniel Dakin was chosen foreman, upon the body of Thomas Wilkins Payne, whose death by falling over the cliff at the foot of Hobsonstreet, was reported in our issue of Tuesday. The jury having, viewed the body, and the place where the accident occurred, reseated themselves, and heard ■ the following evidence : —-Henry O'Brien, a labourer, residing in Shortland Crescent, deposed : On Tnesday night last, at about 9.30 o'clock, in company with Edward Cummins, witness was standing at the lower or northern end of Hobsonstreet, at the top of the cliff overhanging the harbour, looking over the fence. There was no moon shining, but there was sufficient light to enable anyone to proceed down the steps cut in the face of the cliff which lead, to the harbour. Witness and Cummins proceeded down the steps, and on reaching the bottom, Cummins discovered the body of deceased. He called out to witness, " There's a man lying here." Witness went to the spot and spoke to the man twice, but received no answer. The man was lying on his left side on three spars. Perceiving no signs of animation about the body, witness and his companion at once gave information to Constable Kidd, whom they met ou their way to the Police Station. He came back with them to the place where the body was lying, and after looking at the place where the deceased was lying, sent for assistance, which arrived soon after in the shape of Sergeant Martin, of the Water Police. There was a pool of blood on the ground immediately below the head of deceased. Did not observe any wounds on the head. The body was then placed on a stretcher, and carried to the police boat, by means of which it was conveyed to the deadhouse at Freeman's Bay. There was no I one on the beach when the body was discovered. The body wa3 cold. The height of the cliff at the ■ place where the accident occurred is about 50 feet. ' The fence was perfect at the foot of the road, and consisted of posts and three rails. : :There were no palings. At the west side of the street, near the end, a -whole panel of the post-and-rail fencing was wanting. It was through that opening that ■ witness passed on going down to the beach. He had visited the place that day, and observed men engaged in putting up palings. Constable Crosbie Kidd deposed that he went to the spot and saw the body as reported. On examining it by the light of his lamp, he found a large pool of blood on the ground, upon which deceased's head was resting. Thebloodappeared to have flowed from the nose and mouth. Did not observe any marks of violence on the body. The hands, feet, and face were cold, but the trunk was warm. Life was quite extinct. Deceased could not have been dead more than an hour at the time. Sent for assistance, and Sergeant Martin soon after brought the police-boat, in which the body was removed to the dead house. Was not able to identify deceased.—William Amos Clarke, landlord of the Cosmopolitan Cafe, at the corner of Queen and West Queen-street, deposed: Had known the deceased for the last two or three years. Had been in witness's employ as an assistant in the kitchen for the last three months. He was 72 years of age, and according to his own statement, had been in the sSth Regiment, and was in receipt of a pension up to the time of his death. Last saw him alive at about 5.30 o'clock on Tuesday evening. He was then sitting on a doorstep in West Queen-street in a state of intoxication. Witness could not say where he had procured the drink. He olid not get it at witness's house, as he had been away between 12 and 1 o'clock. On witness asking why he had gone away just in the middle of dinner, he said he had been told that his niece had fallen over the cliff, and had gone to see if such was the case, but found she had only sustained a sunstroke. Witness told him to go away and get sober; there was no room for drunk men in the kitchen. Next heard of him on Tuesday night at ten o'clock. As witness was returning home, was told that a man had fallen over the cliff, and was quite dead. Went with Sergeant O'Connor to the dead-house, and identified the body as that of Old Tom, witness's serrant. He has left a writing-desk, a pair of spectacles, a pocket-knife, and some clothing. There was no money owing to him.—Constable Michael Naughton deposed to having examined the body at the dead-house. Observed an extensive fracture on the top of thtf skull, from which blood was issuing. There were no fractures of the limbs. The

frncture on the skull must have proved instantly fatal.—This was all the evidence.— After a short deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of "Found dead," with a rider attached, to the effect that the city authorities should see to the state of certain thoroughfares, and recommending that they be put into repair without delay, as their present unprotected condition is highly unsafe. THE LATE DISOWNING CASE IN HOWE-STIiEET. Immediately at the conclusion of the preceding ■ inquest, a second one was held, at the same place, before Dr. Philson and a jury of twelve, of whom John Clarkson was chosen foreman, upon the body of Mary Sandles, a child two years of age, whose death by drowning we chronicled in our yesterday's impression.—William Sandles, father of deceased, deposed that he lived in Howe-street, in a house belonging to Mr. John Sceats. Last saw the child alive on Wednesday morning, at 7.30 o'clock, at which time he left to go to work. At 1 o'clock a lad came to Fort Britomart, where he was working, and told him he was wanted at home, as the child was drowned. He immediately accompanied the lad home, and saw deceased lying dead in the house. His wife informed him that the child had fallen

into an open well in the garden, and been drowned. The depth of water in the well was about 3 feet 6 inches, the top of it being level with the ground. There is nothing on or around the well to prevent anyone from falling into it. There is another well on the premises, about 40 feet in depth. It is covered over with some rotten boards, and a inoveable lid without hinges or fastenings. Never drew any water out of it, neither does anyone else use it. Every mornincr before to work he warned his wife not to allow"the children to stray near the well. His wife was subject to tits, but did not think she was insane.— Mary Saudles, wife of last witness, deposed : Was engaged in washing on Wednesday morning, the 22ud instant. About half-past 11 o'clock, she missed the child and went in search of it. She had last seen deceased halfan-hour previously, playing in the garden in which the well is situated. She had at that time called it away. None of the neighbours knowing where it was, witness retnrned, and on going into the garden saw deceased's hat, and a stick she had had in her hands, floatiug on the top of the well. Went to a neighbour's house and obtained the assistance of a young girl named Mary Dines, who, having procured a prop, stirred up the water ia the well with it, when the body of deceased rose to the surface. It was at once recovered and taken into the house, but life was quite extinct. The police were at once communicated with, and a constable arrived soon after 12 o'clock. Dr. Dawson was also sent for and came to the house soon after. He examined the body, but failed to restore animation to it. — Mary Dines, daughter of Christopher Dines, deposed : At a little before noon on Wednesday, the 22nd instant, she was standing at the door of her father's house, when Mrs. Sandles called her, and asked her if she had seen her child. She said she iiad not. Mrs Sandles then feared .the'child was in the well, as she had found its hat floating on the top of the water. Witness then rau to the well, and stirred the water in the well with a clothes prop, when the body of deceased rose to the surface. Witness lifted it out, and gave it to Mrs. McGuirk, who said she did not think there was any life in it. It ■was quite cold, and there was no breathing. Mrs. AlcGuirk laid the child on a bed, and

ilrs.'Sanales sent "for a-"doctor.'—-KotljiSg' was done-until the police camerr Then the wet clothes were taken off.--This was all the evidence.—After some consideration, the jury returned a Terdict of " found drowned," with a rider attached, censuring the landlord for allowing an open well to remain on his premises, and recommending the authorities to turn their attention to the state of the wells in the city, as numbers of them are in a very dilapidated and dangerous condition.