INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 21

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the hospital on the ; 2nd before Mr E. H. Carew, S.M. and Coroner, touching the death of George Wood, ! who died at the hospital on Monday morning , from injuries received by falling on the pave- 1 ment at the corner of King and Union streets , at midnight on Saturday. j

Henrietta Wilson, wife of John Wilson, ' said that deceased had lived at her boarding , house in Princes street. She had known him for five years. He was born in England, — in Devonshire she thought. He had told her he had come out to New Zealand as a boy, that he was a widower and had a family in Nelson. He was about 60 years old, and was a cook. He had been a very intemperate man. Latterly he had lived on his means, and had done no work. At one time he was cook at Moa Flat station. He never had fits, but had little faints at times, which witness thought were the effects of drink. For the last few months he had drunk heavily, and when witness spoke to him about it he said it was no business of hers He told her that she would have to wait for her money as he had no more. On Saturday last he left home about midday. She again noticed him about 7 o'clock in the evening in Princes street. Ho was staggering a little.

Constable Bickey gave evidence that at midnight on Saturday Sergeant Gilbert and he passed the deceased in King street, near Union street Witness noticed he had been drinking, but did not think Jie was drunk. Subsequently witness saw him fall down. Witness picked him up, and saw that he was out on the head. He took him to the hospital. He could walk, and gave his name and the place where ho lived. He Raid he felt sick, and, falling, knocked his head on the pavement. '

Dr G. P. Brown gave evidence that when , deceased was brought in he examined him, and found that he was suffering from an ordinary scalp wound, which did not appear to be- serious. He was in a dull, stupid state, , and would not speak when addressed, and ! he did not appeal 1 to notice anyone. Witness j saw him again at half-past 9 on Sunday morning. He appeared to be in the same dull, stupid state. Shortly afterwards lie was j seized with what Feemed like an epileptic fit. ] He had five fit.? that day. Witness saw him again in the evening. He seemed to be in i the same state. About half-past 6 the next

morning witness heard he was dead. Th<! symptoms were consistent with delirium tiemens. Dr Roberts gave evidence that he inada a post-mortem examination of the body. Ho examined the brain, and found four lacerated wounds, accompanied by bleeding, which of themselves were sufficient to cause death. There was no fracture of the skull. The explanation was that he must have fallen with some considerable force on to his head, and the brain tissue became bruised at- points opposite to where the force was applied. It was not an ■uncommon condition to find in consequence of force applied outside the skull. The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage. A verdict was returned that death was.dua to injury to the brain, caused by falling on tho pavement.