THE CAVERSHAM FATALITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12564, 19 January 1903, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE CAVERSHAM FATALITY.

DEATH PROM PERITONITIS. A Caversham resident named James M'Brido, 53 years of ago, was admitted to the Hospital on New Year's Night suffering from an internal injury, from which ho succumbed n few hours; later. Deceased, prior to his death, made tllle-! gat ions ot ilUrcnlmcnt, and stated thai he had received n blow in ihp abdomen from a crutch, the particulars being disclosed at the inquest. Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., opened the inquest on Saturday, the SSrd inst., at the Hospital, Mr John Matthews being foreman of the jury. Jane M'JJridc, wife of tiic deceased, identified the body as that ol her husband, who was a labourer, oged 33. residing at Glversham. Tho deceased rclmne;! home on December 31 at about 4 o'clock, under the influence of liquor, and he was then somewhat violent. Witness loft i!io house at 8 p.m., deceased being then at home. That was Hie last she saw of him alive. Deceased had been complaining of pains in (lie abdomen for Eome time, which lie attributed to a strain received while working ' for the Dnnfdin Corporation, but they had not thought the pains serious pnniifrh |o rn!! in medical advice. Witness's daughter, Mrs : Broomfield, resided with witness, and Broom- • field was at present residing in one of the Caver-1 sham Council's huts. Tbere hud been no ; trouble briweon witness's pon-in-law (Broom- ' field) and deceased that witness knew of. They were the best ot friends as far as her know- : ledge went. ' | Thomas Olendir.ing, member of the firm of Eo3s and- Glondining, said that about 2 p.m. ' on January 1 lie was told a man was lying against tho fence at (he bacl: of his residence at Rockyside Carersham. Lntei he was - told the man had climbed the fence, and was lying at the bnclt of the stable. Witness went out and found deceased lying with his back against the stable. Deceased s?id Le felt very bad, and complained of a pain across (lie abdomen. Witness asked him if ho hnd been ■ drinking, Riid deceased replied that he had. j He said he went home e.<trly in (he morning, ! and his r.on-in-'a\v (Thomas Broomne]cl)knockcd I him about, and his daughter (Mrs Broomfield) I poked him in tho stomach with her crutch. I Witness had not known the deceased previously except by sight. Witness gave him whisky and sodni to* him into tlio stable, and spread out some straw, upon which he placed deceaapd to enable, him to have p. rest. Witness then sent for tho son-in-law (Broorofield), who came soon after. Witness told Broomficld the deceased was very ill, and should he sent to ' tho Hospital. Ercomficld replied that he had had a lot oi tremble with deceased, and would have nothing morr to do with him. Afterwards Broomfield came back and said deceased was only scheming, and ho hoped witness was not feeding him, as ho would only come back and make noise and trouble again a,t night. Witness . said deceased was nil right, and Broomfield then left. After this witness went again to see ! deceased, who aelted for another whisky, and witness gave him some whisky and EOdawaler. Witness., then sent for the constable at Caver- ' ■ sham, hut he was out. Witness then suggested to deceased that he should be sent to the Hob- ■ pita!, but ho pleaded to be left where he was, ■ as he was quite comfortable. Witness then ! went out, and returned about two hours after- I ' wards to scr deceased, who said he was feeling ■ belter. Witness gave decease;! some strong coffee, but he would oat nothing. Witness sent again for tho constable, and Constables Martin and Conr.cr c?.me. Broomfield also arrived about this time. The constables asked Broomficld to take, deceased homo, but he (Broomficld) declined. Thin was about G. 30 or 7 p.m. The deceased again modi* the statement about being knocked nbout. before the constables and j Broomfield. Bioomfiold said he hod never , touched him (deceased). ] The Coroner: It is vory evident yon did all , in your powor, Mr Gleiidining, for the un- , fortunate man. . ] The Sub-inspector: What distance away from your house is M'Bride's? . j Witness: About five minutes' walk. , Tiie Rub-inspec'or:- Did BroomfWd give any ( reason for declining to take deceased home? ) Witness: Yes. 'H,e said he hnd had a lot : of trouble with him. I wanted Broomficld to , take him away, but lie said he would not.. , To a Juryman: When decens?d told witness •] his son-in-law and daughter hnd knocked him ] about he (deceased) was quite conscious and ,' rational. | „ During the hearing of tfie evidence the ; Coroner ordered Broomfield to be brought into , the room, bo that he might hear anything that i s might be said against him. 0 .■ When Mr Glendining's evidence was concluded the Coroner, addressing the jury, stated j he had ordered Dr Brown to make a post j mortem examination, and the result of his, finding would be laid before the. jury nn the | j following Tuesday afternoon, together with the j. remainder of the evidence. . e The inquest was resumed on Tuesday, tho Oth inst. ' '

Or G. P. Brown, house surgeon, said deceased was brought to the Hospital about 10 o'clock on New Year's Night, suffering very severe pain, and was llion in a stale of collapse. Witness examined him, and concluded, from the symptoms, it wae a case of peritonitis. He made use of the usual remedies, but deceased became rapidly worse, and in a- few hours witness saw there was no hope at all. Deceased died about 8.13 a.m. 011 Friday. Ho found 110 marks of violence at all upon the body. Deceased said he ;hai! been struck 011 t-lio abdomen; but afterwards said he fell on a heap of stones while the worse lor liquor. Dr Gordon Macdonald said that on January 4 he had made a post mortem examination of the deceased. Upon opening tho abdomen lie found evidoncc of inflammation of the whole abdominal cavity, with also a large quantity of brown fluid containing some curdled while substance. This made witness suspect rupture of the stomach, and upon examination witness found a rupture of the stomach nenr the right termination, and large, enough to pass r. finger through. This exnlained the peritonitis and other symptoms. There were no evidences of injury on cither the? internal or external walls of the abdomen corresoonding with the scat of injury. Witness could only account for tho aperture iu the slomap.h by the supposition of violence. Such an aperture could only be caused by violence. The dire-ct cause of death was peritonitis, the result of the rupture. James Grounds, finisher, gave evidence as to finding deceased on New Year's Day. Deceased mado a .statement to witness that his son-in-law had knocked hint about or they had a rotv, or words to that effect, and also said something about, being poked with a crutch, but witness did not recollect what. To Sub-inspector Green: When witness first went across to deceased the son-in-law, Broomfield, was there, but witness could not say that lie heard the remarks. Witness asked Broomfield is deceased was his father, and Broomfield ?,\f no ~' lG was bis son-in-law. Witness said, had better take- hiiu home." jJroomfield replied, "No; we've had trouble enough with linn already, and don't want any more." Mrs Batchelov, who resided near, also heard the and *lia sfave him a cup of tea. Jane Smith, residing Rt Cavorsham, saw deceased about 4 o'clock on New Year's Eve going home. She henrd a row in decewed's house after 4 o'clock on New Year's Eve. but nothing ajjain -until 10.30, when she heard deceased making n disturbance at- his house. She heard Broomfield's voice about 11, and thought it wa* all right as there was sonieono there to protect lh" women She heard a ' window smashed. Only deceased, MvsM'Bride, and Mrs Broomfirld resided in the house. Wit- , ness heard deceased "roßting out" nt someone about! 1 o'clock rn New Year's Eve. She could • not m' if Mrs M'Brido was there that night, ! uk sho had not seen her all day. J Constable Martin, stationed at Cavorsham, I stated that about 0.15 p.m. on January 1 he. I was called to Mr Oiendining's residence, and j proceeded there with Constable -Connor. At ! the stable witness saw deceased lying on some ! straw. Witness asked him what lie was doing I theTC, and he complained of pain in tho ; stomach. Witness asked the cause, and demised said Broomfiold, his son-in-law, had f knocked him down an.d jumped on him, and ! his (Broomfield's) wife had poked him with her , crutch. Brcomfield was standing outside, and : witness called him. and asked him if he heard | what deceased said, and witness repeated it, i Broomfield replied, "He came home very I drunk, kicked tip 11 disturbance, kicked the panels of the doo? in. and smashed in a window, and lift must have hurt himself tumbling about." Witness and Constable Connor then assisted him to his .home, left him in BrooniUeld's charge. Broomfield s-t'd.'' It's no j use taking hitr there (doceascd'a houiifj; be will

only kick up ft row again." Broomfield did not 'deny the charge of having knocked tlio deceased . about. . ■ [ To Broomficlcl: Broomfield had not saki, in : answer lo deceased, that lie (BroomfieM) liitd , ncvei touched deceased. Broomfield did not givo nny reason for not taking deceased home ! except that deceased would probably create a disturbance, . i Constable Connor cave corroborative evidonce. . Mary Elizabeth Broomfield, stepdaughter of deceased, was tiien called. , . The Coroner said the deceased had made certain, statements lo the. effect that his injuries wore caused by treatment received at the hands of witness and her husband, and the- doctor had given certain evidence to tho oflect that the injury wae caused by violence. ' It was therefore necessary to warn the witness eht! need no answer unless she chose. The Witnees expressed her willingnei-3 to give evidence, and said deceased came home on New Yoar's Evo under the influence ot liquor. He was violent when ho camo in, and wont out willi witness's husband lutei. He did not roliirn till about 8 o'clock, when ho created a disturbance. DeccMrt throw stonos at tho window and tried io smash in the door. Witness's husband cwmo to tho house at i o'clock, and wont out with deceased, returning shortly after. Ho said deceased was goin", to town, and he would meet him there. Witness's busbund waa just going out when deceased came back (it S o'clock. Thore wo* scuffling with deceased, Broonifiold trying to keep him quiet and io hold him back. Deceased was not thrown down on lhe floor. Witness did not strike deceased or poko him with her crutch. (The witness hero exhibited her left arm, showing it lo be powerless. She is olst a cripple). Mrs It-Bride left the house at 8 o'clock as she was afraid of deceased. Witness was in bed most of the time. Thomas Henry Broomfield, having been warned, elected to givo evidence, and Raid he was » labourer, residing at Kensington. His wife was undo? medical.treatment at decoased's residence. On the afternoon of New Year's Evo witness went lo seo his wife, and about 4 o'clock deceased came in. He saw witness, and nsked what right iie had there. Witness replied tint he e.imo to sec his witc, and deceased said, "Come outride; I want an interview with you." Deceased then abused witlinss, using bod language/and fhen struck him. Witness did not retaliate, but outside deceased started again, and tried to strike witness, He miase:! his aim and fel! on pome rough stones on his stomach. Witness picked him up, and tried to qnieton him. Deceased wanted witness to go to town with him.. Witness said ho had lo work at night, and could not go. Deceased said he would meet witness a.t a quarter to 8 nt tlie Fountain. Deceased went into nn hotel, and afterwards witness left him. He went to meet him at the appointed time, but did rot see him, and relumed to deceased's house a little before him. Witness went out, and shortly afterwards heard a great disturbance at the house, and heard tlin women scrcnining. Witness went to the house then, a.r.d asked deceased what he was up to. Deceased said, "Oh, you go to -—." Witness talked 10 him. and the deceased went away for a time, but came hack, and carried on the. same condue!, ard this continued the. whole night. Witness hold deceased round tho middle to k&p him from smofliinjr the doors, and kept close to him to prevent him fretting an axo nr anything lo Rtriks witness with. About daylight flepwcd went away, and ivHnes.i did not see him again until next day against the fev.ee. Witness wanted him to go to the Hospital or olsf to go homo. Deceased replied (hat he would not go near, the place cgain. Witnws saw that deceased was ill, but he made no complaint of any pain Witness wiwted him fo go to the Hospital.' but deceased declined, and Raid, if he wcro left alone he would be all riuht. Witness tried !o fjet him home, but he ri'tnssd to.gn, and witness left him under some trees, llr Ole-xli'iii:;.; s.mt for witness afterwards, but wi'.nsss j>sid ho -.rc-uk! tjfcp no responsibility now; ho had done all he could. Witii»ss re(n°ed to ta.ks deceased from from Oloidiiiing's taeniae {here was i>o one lo loolr ifter him. Tie thought deceased might have hurt himself fallin;; ovei the fence. Witness refuse;] to take him inlo the home, ss tho front carl was witness's wife's apartment, and tho lne.lt post was looked up.. Mrr, H'Brida left Hie house, .15 sh? was afraid of deceased, whom ?hr hoard eny if '15 could only finish her ho ivnulcl be satisfied. Henry Batiltlyn (culled at Broomficld's request) stated thr.t dressed was very much under the influence of liquor. The Coroner, in luldre.'.-iiig the jury, said Hiere was no doubt from the doctor's evidence Lhat death was caused by peritonitis, occasioned by violence, either direct or indirect, ft was for the jury to come to tho conclusion whether the evidence justified them in finding ii'lielhnr that violence was divMt or indirect, tie presumed the jury would have no doubt 11 lo the actnal cause of death being peritonitis, lint whether the peritonitis was caused by injdvertence or by direct violence was for tho iiiry to consider, After a short retirement (he Jury returu'd ffith the verdict " That death was caused by iierifo'iilis, the direct of a ruptuve of the stomach, caused by vioknc?, but how or by ,vhom the violence was occasioned there was lot sufficient evidence to show."