CORONER'S INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1387, 29 June 1878, Page 7

CORONER'S INQUEST.

At the Dunedin Hospital, on the afternoon of the 21st, before Dr Hocken, an inquest was held on the body of Robert Stevenson, wno was found drowned in a creek at Halfway Bush on the previous day. The following evidence was given : —

James Macreadie, a bushman, residing at Half wny Bush, deposed that the deceased and himself had lived together three weeks lately. He had known him for the past eight years, and had lived with him at intervals during that time. Deceased was about seventy years of age, and had previously been a farmer at Braehead, three miles out of Glasgow. He came out to Dunedin 17 years ago, in the same ship as Mr Reed, the blacksmith. He was unmarried, and left no money or property. He was a man who loved hia "little drop." He was a Presbyterian by faith. Witness last saw him alive on Monday morning. He was then on his way to his usual employment at Blackwood's slaughter-house. He did not return iv the evening, but witness did not feel any uneasiness on deceased's account, as he thought he was at the slaughter house. The next day was rainy, and witness made no search. The following day the body was pointed out to witness

by a boy. It was lying in the Upper ILaikorat creek. It must have been lying there for two days. The portion of the creek where the deceased was found was closely contiguous to the crossing place, and was distant only 60 or 70 yards from deceased's home. The depth of water at the place was only l^ft. The body was hidden by the culvert. There were marks of ground being broken at the place, and witness's opinion was that the deceased, in attempting to cross the culvert, had stumbled and fell, stunning himself. Witness had never heard deceased talk of committing suicide. He was a very religious man in hia way. On Monday morning deceased had 15s in his pocket, and a watch in his possession, and when recovered there was found on the body 4s 6d, a £lb of tobacco, and the watch. Wm, T. Bunting, hotelkeeper at Halfway Bush, said that he supplied the deceased with a glass of brandy on Monday morning. Two hours afterwards he returned with another man, who averred that he bad pulled him out of a ditch. Deceased said that his stick; had fallen into the ditch, and that, in attempting to secure it, he had fallen in himself. His clothes were wet through, and his teeth were chattering with cpld. Witness supplied the deceased with half a wine glass full of brandy, on condition that he waited till a dray papsed by, in order that witness might secure him a lift home. However, deceased weut away during witness's temporary absence from the bar. The place where the body was found was, very dangerous. A young lad had fallen into the creek there, and two drays had been capsized. Alexander Shaw, a labourer (the last person who saw the deceased alive), said that he saw the deceased going home at about a quarterpast 7 o'clock on Monday evenine. He was then distant not more than a couple of stone throws from hia (deceased's) own housa. Deceased was rather short-sighted. Jamea Bollaud, John Weir, and Constable Keenan were also examined, the constable stating that the watch found on the body of the deceased man had stopped at 9 o'clock. The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased, Robert Stevenson, was accidentally drowned on Monday night last.