Inquest.

Southland Times, Issue 19265, 1 February 1904, Page 3

Inquest.

An inquest touching the death of Pat. rick McCarthy, who fell from the Riversdale excursion train ou Friday evening. lal opened at the Bluff on Saturday afSSoXW* ™ S " B " McCarthy Coroner arid a jury. Sergeant McGrath apneared for tho police, and Mr Piper, District Traffic Manager, watched tho pro^ ceedings on behalf of tho Railway Department. Oeorge Walsh, labourer, deposed that deceased had been known to him for the last 10 years ; ho was a single man. Met McCarthy about 3 ; 30 p.m., »nd they went to tho Eagle hotel, -where they had small glasses of beer! Two or threo of deceased's friends were there, and they also had drjtnks. Witness and McCarthy left the hotel about 1 20 minutes later. At 4.30 p.m. they went to the Club hotel, where each had a glass of' beer and afterwards lime juice and lemonade. They then walked to the Eagle hotel and McCarthy invited witness in, but he declined. Drink was then noticeable pn McCarthy, and he was refused it at tho Eagle hotel. At the Club hotel McCarthy bought- a bottle of beer, which witness tied in a small basket for him. When going along the station platform McCarthy Blipped amd fell over the ker.bing. His gait was straight, but the platform is undergoing: alterations, and tho stumblo was caused by his tripping over a loose stone. McCarthy got up himself, and proceeded to a second-class carriage. McCarthy had to walk the full length of tho platform. Whon in tlie Club ho.tel, witness saw a stranger procure a bottle of whisky. This person got the cork eased, but witness did not think he travelled in the same car as McCarthy. Tho conduct of deceased was always peculiar, and, when sober, he seemed to bo half drunk. Pr Torrancc stated that he examined the body of deceased on tho embankment close, to where he fell. There were severe injuries about the head, and a deep scalp wound over the right eye, but the s'tull waß^.not fractured. r The whole side of tho head was bruisedf Drowning was the causa of death, although the injuries might have Bad a fatal termination. Deceased was stumied and then drowned. -Saw blood in the water a body's length from the embankment, where he was informed deceased was found lying face downwards. Saw McCarthy about 4.30 p.m. in the vicinity of the station with Walah. He was slightly under the influence of liquor. Witness did not think he was too drunk to travel by train, although ho was lurching in tho middle of the road. If deceased had ai sunstroke four years ago, beer would take a Quicker effect upon him. . - Cuas. W. Wilson, assistant guard, said he saw no drunk men on tho train and had no recollection of seeing" deceased. There wero 405 passengers. The accident was reported to him at Ocean Beach. At this stage the inquest was adjourned till 2.15 p.m. on the sth inst, in order to obtain the evidence of witnesses of the accident, who had proceeded to Riversdale* in the train.