ACCIDENTAL STRANGULATION

Southland Times, Issue 17621, 8 April 1914, Page 2

ACCIDENTAL STRANGULATION

THE WINDHAM CASH,

EVIDENCE AT ENQUIRY,

An enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of John Mcßwan, a young' man who was found dead in Walker’s Hotel. Wyndham, on Sunday, was held at Wyndham on Monday before Mr John Millar, J.P., and the following jury ; —Messrs R. Pauli (foreman), John Stinson, W r . J. Marsh, and John F. Winter.

Constable Bogue represented the police.

Robert McEvran, a brother of the' deceased. deposed that he last saw deceased on Thursday in Invercargill. Deceased then appeared to be all right, and in fairly good health. Witness left his brother in Invercargill that night. Deceased lived with witness. His age was about 26 years. James Walker, proprietor of the Railway Private Hotel, Wyndham. deposed that deceased came to his boardinghouse on Friday, 3rd inst.. at about midnight, accompanied by Samuel Clarke, sen. They said they had been to King’s for supper. Deceased engaged and occupied a bed in witness’s house. Deceased returned the following morning (Saturday). He had evidently had liquor but seemed fairly well, and perfectly sober. He was in a similar condition on the Friday night. He had a bottle with him three parts full of whisky. Saw him in bed on Saturday morning when he appeared to he suffering evidently from the effects of liquor, but appeared rational otherwise. He had no dinner. Witness went up to him at about 1 o’clock p.m.. and found him then up and fully dressed. Saw deceased again in the evening, in his room —he had not been out —at about 10.30. Asked him if he would take any food, and he said he would have a cup of tea. Witness took him a cup of tea and some scones; deceased drunk part of the tea while witness was there. William Richardson went up to deceased’s room with witness, and witness left them together. Some time later Richardson came down to the kitchen for another cup of tea on behalf of deceased, and took the tea up to the room. Witness did not think that deceased ate any of the food. At 12.30 or 12.45 a.m. on Sunday witness again went up to deceased’s room: he was then lying perfectly quiet. ness had a few words conversation with deceased, and asked him if he required anything. Deceased replied that lie would take a cup of tea. which witness procured. Told deceased to be sure to blow the light out, and deceased said he would sec to that. It would then he about 1 o’clock. Witness was informed by Richard Spiers. a boarder, in the Interning («SunViay) at about 10 o clock of deceased’s death. Went up to the room and found deceased’s body lying partly under one of the beds in the room, face downwards. He was caught on a wire that witness had put under the bedstead to keep it together. Deceased’s feet were stretched outwards against the wall. Witness tried to lift the bed off, to see whether the man was dead or not and found that lie was quite dead. There was a Clot of blood in the corner of the room evidently issued from the mouth or nose Witness heard no noise during the night. H was not the bed that deceased had slept in that he was found under but, the other one—there were two beds in the room. Nothing had been disturbed in the room. .lames Henderson Baird, medical practitioner. deposed that lie was summoned by thf* previous witness to bis boarding - - house at about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning. On entering No. 7 room witness saw deceased lying face downwards with his feel braced against one vail and the head and upper part of the body supported partly on the elbows and partly on a wire passing across his neck. This wire ran parallel to the framework of the bed. and deceased’s head lay between the wooden framework and the wire -The body was cold and stiff, death having occurred probably six or eight hours previously. Oil the floor was a pool of dark blood, stretching from the head of the wall. On removing the bed, and turning the body over, the face was seen to be livid. The nose had been bleeding. A deep indentation ran across the lower part of th« neck in front—this indentation was evidently due to severe pressure, by the wire already mentioned. The windpipe had been severely compressed, and death had occurred through strangulation. Richard Speirs. plumber, deposed that he was a boarder at Walker’s boardinghouse, and knew tie deceased. He last saw him alive nn Thursday morning, when he was leaving for Invercargill races. Witness visited deceased’s room on Sunday morning' at about 10 o’clock. Witness, having just had breakfast, had proceeded upstairs to visit Wm. Dunbar, another boardtr. Dunbar asked if witness had heard a row last; night. Witness said be did —that about 2 o’clock he was avakened by hearing two or three yells Dunbar suggested that witness shouU go in and see how •lack llcEwan was getting on in No. 7. Witness thereupon went into the room —could only open the door about half way. owing to obstruction by deceased’s body. When witness got in, and saw the body lying on the floor, he thought deceased was sleepinf. The body was lying Hat on its cheat. Witness returned to Dunbar’s room, and called him in. The two of them went into deceased’s room, and Dunbar called llcEwan by name. There being no response they thought there was something wrong, and felt his feet, Mhich were cold. Witness then pressed the door against deceased’s legs, but there was no movement. the limbs bang quite rigid. Deceased’s head was underneath the bed, with is feet hard tp against the wall. Deceased had slept in his bed, and the appearances were to the effect that he had tried to crawl under the other bed. There were no sigis in the room of a struggle having tSken place. Witness went and informed the landlord. Deceased. when witrpss found the body, had a pair of trou.Trs on.

William Dunbar.ia monoline operator, a boarder at Walkjr's, deposed that he occupied Xd. C rodn. Knew John McEwan. who occupijd a room adjoining witness’s. Last sgw deceased alive on Friday night, just (’or a moment, as he (deceased) passed [with Mr Walker on his way to his rolm. Witness retired to bed on Saturdaylnight at about 12.30. W'as awakened by I noise at about 2 or 2.30 a.m., as thougljsomebody was jumping about in the lid in the next roun, and vomiting. Thj noise continued for a short time only. | Heard no voice calling. Witness was in the verge of going into No. 7 room then the noise subsided, so he did not go. Richard Speirs came into witness! room at about 10 on Sunday morning while witness was in bed,, and asked inelrs to go into No. 7 room, and see pow McEwan was. (■Witness corroborated Spelr’s evidence from this point ontard). Daniel Boguo, p lice const,!!..s;ationed at Wyndham gave ordinary official evidence. The jury returne. a verdict that deceased met his deai by strangulation, accidentally caused.