INQUEST AT THE HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5492, 24 June 1879, Page 6

INQUEST AT THE HOSPITAL.

An inquest waa held yesterday afternoon at the hospital before Dr. Goldsboro' and a common jury, of whom Henry Sancken was chosen foreman, on the body of Johnston Kiug. After viewing the body, the following evidence was taken :—Dr. Philson deposed that deceased was brought to the hospital on Friday last at half-past six o'clock p.m. He stated that he had been injured at Tairua by being crushed between two logs of timber on the 4th instant, and that no blame was attributable to his mates. He was in a very low condition, his pulse rapid and feeble, his eyes sunken, and his countenance palid. His left lower extremity presented a most ghastly appearance. The muscles of the thigh were extensively lacerated, the thigh - bone crushed, and the knee - joint also crashed. The lower part of the limb was dangling from the upper. The left leg waa fractured, and fragments of the bone could be felt under the skin. A small quantity of chloroform was administered to him. The upper end of the thigh-bone was sawn short, the ragged muscle trimmed, the arteries scoured, and the stump bound up. When all was finished the patient was in a very low state, and although he rallied somewhat, death took place at forty minutes past eight the same night. It did not appear that anything had been previously applied to the injuries. The patient seemed entirely to have been left to nature. He had been seen by a medical man at the Thames, who pronounced the case to be hopolej-e, and did not visit it a second time. Deceased said his age was 37 years, and that ho was a bushman.—James Philip Adamson deposed that he was a bush contractor, residing at the Tairna Saw-tnills. He knew the deceased, who was in his employment. He was not present at the time of the accident. The accident occurred between S and 9 miles from the mill. When deceased was brought tw the mill, they dressed the wound", as well as they could, and then sent for Dr. Andrews, who came and looked at him, and said he was too weak to have anything done to him. The next morning he came again, but did not do anything to the wou d. lie afterward ordered his removal to the Auckland hospital, which was done as early as possible. Deceased suffered great pain on the voyage. He took a little food, which he afterward vomited. He Btated that there was no one to blame for the accident. When they reached Auckland, he was conveyed to the hospital, whero he was at once admitted and looked after. He did not think Dr. Andrews did justice to the patient.— Patrick Crowley depnaed th:it he mi a buahman, residing at Tairua. He knew the deceased. On the day in question, about 5 o'clock in the evening, he and deceased were breaking out logs at Groca Point, ia a

gaily. Deceased had a jack in bia hand, which he applied to one of the logs. The log rolled down the gully, otushing tbe deceased against another log. He picked the deceased up, and then Bent another man for assistance. They carried the deceased down to the creek, and from there to the milL Witness had nothing to do with moving the log. The deceased started the log himself. He blamed nobody for the accident.—The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."