INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 20

INQUEST.

An inquest on the body of Robert Fisher, who was found dead in his hut, at Mosgiel, on Saturday, was held at that place on Tuesday morning, before Mr Coroner Carew and six jurors.

Alexander Murdooh, labourer, residing ato Mosgiel, identified the body shown to the jury as that of his uncle, Robert Fisher, who was bom st May bole, Ayrshire, Scotland. The deceased had been about 27 years in the colony, was 75 years of age, and a widower. He had been unable to work for a good long time, and was receiving aid from the Benevolent Institution. Witness had noticed that he had been gradually looking older, but he always had good health. He had never known him to have a fit, or to complain about his chest or heart.

Dr Allan deposed that he made an outward examination of deceased's body on Monday. There were no injuries of any kind on the, body, except that a small piece of skin was off tha left hand. From the appearance of the face, witness thought it was an "old heart case." There was no appearance of death from any other than some natural cause.

James Spence, contractor, residing at Mosgiel, stated that he last saw the deceased alive on the 14th of June, on the district road, near to the entrance of the paddock in which his hat was situated. Deceased then made no complaint about his health. The next morning witness was passing in a cart the hut deceased resided in. He could then see that the door of the hut was closed. He repaessd three-quarters of an hour later, and he noticed that the door was open. Witness was accustomed to pass the hut very early in" the morning, and he very seldom, except in the summer months, saw deceased's door open so early. On Saturday morning last he passed the hut about half-past 7 a.m., and noticed the door was then open, but did not see anything of the deceased.

George Gibson stated that the deceased used to come on Wednesdays and Saturdays for groceries to Mr Cuddies shop, where witness was employed. As he had not been to the shop since Saturday, June 2, Mr Caddie told witness on Saturday last to go up to his hut and see if he was at home. Witness went to the but about 3 o'clock that afternoon, and finding the door open he went inside. On looking jnto the room where the deceased slept he caw his body lying on the floor. He then reported the matter to Constable Miller.

Constable Miller deposed that when he went to the hut at about a quarter to 4, he found the body of the deceased lying in the right hand corner of the room in which deceased's bed was. The body was lying on its right side, partly dreaßed, and stiff and cold. It had tho appearance of having been dead some time. The deceased had a shovel in his right hand, which had been used as a fire shovel ; and his walking stick was in his left hand. Witness had never seen him without a stick when moving about. There was a box underneath deceased's bed in which he kept provisions. There was a small loaf of bread in the box and a quarter of another loaf. There was also sugar, butter, cheese, and flour there. The deceased did not appear to have been in want. The body seemed in a natural position, as if the deceased had just dropped where he lay. The jury returned a verdiot to the effect tbab death resulted from natural causes.