Inquests.

Otago Witness, Issue 1731, 24 January 1885, Page 4

Inquests.

An inquest on the body of AnnUre was held at the Resident Magistrate's Court t^ Friday morning, before E. H. Carew.Esq,, tfad a jury of 12.

Dr Neill, superintendent of the Seacliff Asylum, deposed that Ann TJre was admitted into the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum on May 13, 1869. Sho was subsequently removed to Seacliff. About two months ago she became ill with an attack of Bright's disease, and had been .confined to her bed ever since. She gradually became weaker, and died on the. morning of the 14th inst. The disease was an incurable one. The patient received every attention during her illnes3. According to the record, she was a married woman. No friends had ever been to see her, to witness' knowledge, for the last two years. Her husband was a resident of Hampden. Witness had telegraphed to _ him, but had never received any reply. Witness did not know whether he was alive ornot. The deceased was a native of Ireland, and 6i years of aga at the time of her death. Witness could not say how long she had bsen in New Zsalaod. Her husband was a farmer. Witness saw the deceased the night before she died. Her death then seemed imminent. Ellen Davidson deposed that she attended" Ann Ure at the Seacliff Asylum, and was with her at the time of her death. She died about 7.30 on the morning of the 14th inst. She had been a long time confined to her bed. Witness could assign no cause for her death but a natural one.

The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased died from natural causes.

An inquest on the body of Archibald Fraser was held at Woodhaugh on Friday afternoon, before Mr E. H. Carew, R.M., and a jury of 32, of which Robert Rossbotham was chosen foreman.

Elizabeth Harbour deposed that she knew the deceased Archibald Fraser. On Saturday last witness looked out of the window and saw Fraser ia the creek lying down, and then saw the cart go over his body. The far wheel went over him. Witness saw no person there but himself. He afterwards crawled out of the water and lay down by a large stone near the creek. Presently some young fellows came up. The horse at this time ' was stilt going on with the dray, and going protty quickly. The young fellows went after the horse and brought the dray back to whereFraser was lying and put him into the dray. Mr Aaskoy then came up and took charge of the dray, and drove u it in the direction of Fraser's home. When witness looked out of the window she saw the horse stopping, as she thought, to get a drink from the creek. It then moved on, and the cart passed over Fraaer immediately afterwards. Fraser seemed almost* helpless.

Lydia Harbour gave corroborative evidence. Anderson Aaskoy deposed that he met deceased on Saturday at Holmes' hotel. He was there for about 20 or 30 minutes, and left after witness. The deceased and witness were each driving a horse and dray. When they got aa far as Clarke's store deceased went ahead. He next met him at Harbour's ford, Pine Hill Greek,- about a quarter of a hour afterwards. He found him then lying in his cart. There were six persons there, but witness knew none of them. Witness asked Fraser if he had fallen off the cart, and he said "Yes; but he was not hurt." He seemed to be "dull like," Witness took charge of his horse and cart, and drove it until he was near home. Deceased then said he was able to drive the rest of the way, and they parted. When witness found him at the ford his clothes were all wet. There was no one in the cart with deceased when he left witness at Clarke's. He seemed then as though he had had a glass or two, but he was not drunk. Witness saw him have only one small glass of beer at Holmes' hotel. Holmes told him that he had better go home just before he did leave. Edward Holmes, of the Woodhaugh Hjotel^ deposed that the deceased came to his house on Saturday last, and had some bread and" l cheese and a glass of beer. After witness had served him he thought that he must have been drunk during the day, but he seemed to be quite fit to have charge of a horse and dray. When he started to drive ho stood up with one leg in the dray and the other on the jjff side of the shaft. That was the usual wayyfcth him when driving, and witness frequently remonstrated with him about it.

Dr Coughtrey deposed that he called to see the deceased on the 12th inst. He told wit* ness that he had fallen off a cart. He mentioned this at other visits ; but when witness, questioned him about it, he said that he could not remember any more. Witness found that there were no external bruises, but the injuries were such as might have been caused by the -wheel of a cart passing over the lower part of the body. On Wednesday witness found him. worse, and then expressed an opinion that he would not recover. On Thursday he was again worse, and died from acute peritonitis, accompanied by urethral rupture caused by the injury.

The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased died from tho injuries he received by the wheel of a dray having passeS** over his body.