INQUEST.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 4778, 9 April 1887, Page 3

INQUEST.

The inquest on the late John M'Cormack was held at the Panama Hotel on Thursday aftsrnoon, before Dr Boor, the Coronw, and the following jurors:—Messrs David Fox (foreman), Thomas Bradshaw, John Brown, William Johnson, Geo. Phillips, and Stephen Star. The following evidence was produoed:

W. Lightfoot, City Survtyor: On Twsday afternoon about 3.30 I was on my way to the Reservoir in Brook street YalUy and pasted the dtteaied n«« the reservoir keeper's house. He.vras putting his horse into the cab. He told ma he had taken some pasieagertf vp and was just about returning home. Ha wai net quite sober, but was certainly not iaeapable. I went on to the dam and was thera half an hour. On my return, I found the deceased ia the lame place, repairing gone breakage to his cab, which appeared to have been overturned. He told me that the horse in turning round had capsized the cab. I got off niy horse to. help him. The iron work connecting the shafts with the under carriage was broken, and he strapped the parts together with a strong leather strap. I advised him to drive very carefully, and by no means to take any one in the cab, and he said he would not do so for a pound. I saw him get off and open the gate, and watched him driving till he was out of sight. He appeared to be driving steadily. He drove down a st^ep bank near the reservoir keeper's house very careiully. I went to Mr Stone's, and was talking to him for ten minutes, and then started to ride homewards.' About 250 yards on the town side of the Reservoir reserve gate, I found the deceased lying on the road side on his back. The horse and cab were not in sight. 1 spoke to him, but got no reply. He was like a man in a very heavy sleep, and was snoring heavily. There was a p^ol. ••<%*».plotted.c ( i > r9od under his head^frJV.^A^;«^ftoneIs house, and <■■•",«■ him to ogf and rode back to M'Oormack, au - V-K?^" $&n into a Bitting position, aud supponl^/7 i^ till Stone arrived. Iconldsee.a woui)yif'-&.tlie back of the head. Mr Stone soon at*, .yea and at the same time Mr James Newport came galloping up. I aeked him to ride back and get his spring cart from their farm, which he did, returning in about 20 minutes. We put McConaack in and drove him to Dr Cressy's surgery. From tbe traces of the wheels it appeared that the cab had.been on one side of the road, the wheel in a hollow near the fence, and it seemed that deceased had been jerked off his seat, and had fallen on the left hand side. On reaching town, I want and informed Mrs McCormack of the accident. I then went to Dr Cressy's surgery, and afterwards went to fetch MraJMcUormack there. James Newport, junior '.' About. 4-30 on Tuesday, I saw a horse with a cab galloping towards town. I tried to stop the horse, which turned in towards our farm. The cab

then capßized. I took the horse out and put it in the stable, and mounted another horse and rode towards the reservoir, and found Mr Lightfoot supporting McCormack'. I went back to our farm and got a trap, and with the assistance of Mr Lightfoot, Mr Stone, and Mr Gill, McCormack waa put into the trap and taken to Dr Cressy's surgery, and afterwards to his home in Collingwood street.

Dr G. H. Cressey: I was summoned to the surgery on Tuesday afternoon between 5 and 6 o'clock, and found the deceased there lying on his back. He was quite insensible and breathing heavily, his breath smelling very much of drink. He had a small scalp wound at the back of his head. He^seemed to partially regain consciousness, and endeavored to sit up when his wife came in the surgery. He attempted to spaak, but uttered nothing intelligible. He appeared to be suffering from the effects of both drink and a blow.

In about a quarter of an hour he was removed to his house. I saw him the following morning in company with Dr Hudion, in whose hands the case was. He seemed rather better <than on the night before, but was quite insensible. There was evidence of concussion of the brain, from whioh and subsequent effusion of blood on to the brain, causing compression, I attribute his death. . The Jury brought is a verdict of accidental death.