SUDDEN DEATH AT PAEROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10969, 25 January 1899, Page 5

SUDDEN DEATH AT PAEROA.

THE INQUEST. A JURYMAN FINED. [BY TELEGRAM!. —OWN* CORRESPONDENT.] Paeroa, Tuesday. A MAN named Clias. Rosinski, aged 10, was found dead in bed, at Mrs. Taylors boardingliouse, this morning. About ten o'clock last night he came home and complained of pains in his legs. He then went to his room, and nothing further was heard of him until he was found dead this morning by Mrs. Taylor, who was taking a cup of tea to him. An inquest was held this afternoon, before Mr. Forrest and a jury of six, of which Mr. Manning was chosen foreman. Evidence was given by Mrs. Taylor and by a lodger who occupied the room next to deceased, and also by Dr. F. C. S. Forbes, who made a post-mortem examination. The doctor said he considered that the cause of death was syncope, induced by long-stand-ing heart disease and fatty degeneration. The jury returned a verdiit in accordance with the medical evidence. The responsibility of jurymen was evidenced at this inquest, when an absentee was fined £1. It appears that a jury of six was empanelled, including a man named Jas. Jennings, of Waihi, who was led to believe lie would be detained one and a-lialf hours. He was sworn in and the jury proceeded to view the body. An adjournment was then made to enable the post-mortem examination .to be proceeded with. On resuming, Mr. Jennings was absent. A further adjournment of 15 minutes was made to enable him to appear. At the conclusion of this time his name was called, and as ho did not appear he was fined £1 by the coroner, who remarked that he would have made the penalty much heavier only that the juror had evidently been misled. At the conclusion or the inquest the foreman asked the coroner to reconsider his decision, as there was no doubt the juror was not aware of his responsibility. The coroner siiid lie could not do this, but would forwni'd the recommendation to the proper quarter.