CORONERS INQUEST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11126, 15 November 1907, Page 7

CORONERS INQUEST.

DEATH FROM NATURAL CAUSES. On the conclusion oifi the evidence yesterday afternoon concerning the death of Denis O'Sullivan, Government Life Insurance canvasser, tlie jury asked leave to retire to consider their verdict, and after being away about ten minutes m- ' timated.' that their verdict was that there ■ was no evidence to show how- deceased ] came by his death, excepting that of the ' doctor. " . - . : The, Acting-Coroner, "Mr F. W. Riaeh, ' pointed out that this was not a. concur- ' sive verdict as to the cause of death. ; The jury, he supposed, meant to. state ' that death' was the lesult of natural causes, m accordance with the evidence qf the doctor. . The jury then recast their verdict, and .brought it m as follows: "There is no evidence of the actual cause of death, but the jury are of the opinion that the deceased came by his death as suggested by Dr Morrison, and according to the medical .evidence, their. Verdict is tlrat deceased died, from natural causes." At the conclusion, of the evidence (as published -yesterday), Dr Overton reverted to the subject on which a question had been ; asked by. the sergeant, as to his having received a blow on the eye. Sergeant Williams said that he had asked the question, irot because he believed there was aayn y truth m it, but to clear up reports 'in circulation; he agreed with Dr Overton that the report was a ridiculous' one, but considered it just as well to have the matter, referred to v and an .opportunity given dor denying it. , ■■•.'-. . Tire Acting-Coroner said that . it was really as much m the interest of the doctor as anyone else to have such a 1 report cleared up; they could not stop people talking, but by the question being asked an opportunity was given, to have the matter satisfactorily cleared up. Dr Overton said thatj he would like still to call Mr J. Martin, who would bear him out m the statement that the injury to his (the doctor's) eye' had been caused by an accident, and had not the slightest connection with the suggestion made. The Acting-Coroner said they had no need to hear anyone else, on the matter, as they accepted the doctor's- statement unquestioningly— they were quite satisfied that what the doctor said was correct. ' Sergeant Williams: I only asked the question to have the matter cleared up. Dr Overton: There is absolutely nothing m it ; there was no quarrel or bickering or anything like that between us.The Acting-Coroner again assured Dr Overton that they were satisfied m the matter, and that there was no need to cull Mr Martin, or' anyone else to go into the subject, which- was irrelevant to the matter they .had before them. The Acting-Coroner went on to remark that the jury could ■ now consider thenverdict, when the foreman said that one of the jurymen desired to liave Mr Martin called, and m consideration of that request, the Acting-Coroner said that he would hear Mr Martin's evidence, though he did not see what it could have to do with tho business before them. Mr J. H. Martin being then called on, protested that this was not ifair to him. Why, he asked, should he be expected to go into the pros, and cons, of how a man came by a black eye. It had absolutely nothing whatever to do with the business before him. It had nothing whatever to do with Mr O'Sullivan and he daresay the Court knew quite as much about it already as he (Mr Martin). He did not think it fair for the doctor to havo called on him m this way. Dr Overton : Tliere is evidently a misunderstanding — all I want is for you to explain to the Court that tire injury to my eye was caused accidentally, and" had absolutely nothing whatever to do with Mr O'Sullivan m any way. Mr Martin said that Dr Overton had his eye injured at half-past nine on the Wednesday night. The foreman : That is an answer to the whole question ; if we had had that before wq would not have heard so much of the matter. Mr McLean (a juryman) said that he had asked to have Mr Martin called, not m connection with the subject referred to by Dr Overton, but to clear up quite another matter. They had it that Mr O'Sullivan had not slept m his bed on the Monday night, and Mr Martin might be able to "clear up the point as to what ho had done for his meals m the meantime. Mr Martin said that deceased had only mireed the one lunch. He had had his breakfast, and had been seen at 2.30, so how long could he have gone hungry? TJre jury then retired, and brought m their verdict as above. i