UDDEN DEATH OF A BUSHMAN

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1797, 6 October 1874, Page 2

UDDEN DEATH OF A BUSHMAN

COBONEE'S INQUEST,

An inquest was held this morning, before J. E. Macdonald, Esq., Coroner, on the body of the late John Drew, who died suddenly in the Hazelbank Hotel, yesterday night.

The following gentlemen were sworn in as a jury:—W. Eowe, E. W. Fairburn, Samuel Turtle, C. Wright, Edward Cohen, J. Flower Carter, John Gribble, G. Goldsworthy, S. Akroid, E. Millett, D. E. Gellion, and T. W. Gudgeon. Mr. W. Eowe was elected foreman, and the jury then retired to view the body, after which .it was decided to hold the enquiry at the Court House, Queen-street, and the coroner and jury adjourned there in consequence.

The coroner stated the circumstances of the man's death.

Eobert Loramer deposed—That he had been tiring at the Miranda, and had been working for some time for Mr. Macdonald, as a bushman, cutting timber. The deceased had been employed there for about two months. Witness Tras constantly in his company during that time. Witness had a previous knowledge of deceased— had; been living in the same house with him for about 12 months. Never knew him to be troubled with sickness of any kind. Deceased had been inclined to drink—he had bad several drinking bout* of about a week or a fortnight. Witness came over i£o Grahamstown on Sunday last at about half-past one. Witness believed deceased went to the Hazelbank Hotel—having left him on the wharf. Saw deceased again about 11 o'clock yesterday, when he (the deceased) was slightly under the influence of liquor. Saw him again about half-past four in the afternoon, at the Hazelbank Hotel. Deceased was then in about the same stage of intoxication as when witness previously saw him. He did not complain to witness of being unwell. Witness had something to drink with the deceased, but was not positive what the deceased.drank. Had no more than the one drink. Bemained in his company about half an hour. Deceased could talk rationally when witness left him, and walk steadily. Witness saw deceased afterwards lying on the sofa in the Hazelbank, but could not tell whether he was alive or dead. \ That was about 10 o'clock. Mrs. Gillon and Miss Clark were also in the room.-Witness stayed in the room about 10 minutes. Supposed deceased to be sleeping as his position was natural, lying with his face towards the wall. Witness remarked to the females that deceased was having a good sleep. Didn't recollect whether any reply was made. Witness then went away. He was quite sober at the time. By a jurorr-That wag all the conversation witness had with the women-about deceased. He had assumed that deceased drank rum and milk, because he saw the glass with some in it on the table.

By the foreman. Could not say what h* ate continuously, as he had not seen deceased from half-past on* at Hold ship's until 4 o'clock. Thought Mrs. Gillonsaid deceased had eaten a good breakfast. Ann Gillon, wife of Alex, ©illon, deposed — That her husband kept the Hazelbank Hotel. [Recollected Sunday last, when deceased came into, the house, at about three o'clock. Witness had often seen deceased, though he had never before lodged in her (witness') house. Deceased remained in the house all day on Sunday,, and had two meals. He had had a glass of beer with his dinner, but no more to witness' knowledge. He went to bed at about eight o!clock on Sunday night, sober./; He complained of being ill. His eyes were bloodshot and their vicinity black. He had told witness he had a fall over the other side (meaning the Miranda). Deceased went outside of the house before witness got up on Monday morning, and left the house. He cam* in again with two others and had a glass of whisky. He then went out again, returning about half-past ten o'clock. . Witness could tell when deceased came in that he had been drinking subsequently to hw obtaining the whisky. H* had a good breakfast of porridgo and bacon and eggs. He then went to bed, and got up when Mr Macdbnald cam* to pay his wages. Witness had a trouble to wake him. It was before one o'clock. Deceased went £ ,back after he had settled with Mr. Macd^nald. He had a drink previous to his going to bed—a drop ?of whisky. Believed deceased had only on* glass then. Witness got up 'it about five o'clock and had two drinks with McKenzie and Loramer—having rum and milk on both occasions. He then fell asleep with his head on the table. When witness advised deceased he got up and went and lay down on a sofa in a private room. He had complained to witness of being unwell yesterday—said that lie felt all his bones sore. When deceased got up to go in the room he was neither drunk nor sober, could walk into th* room. Deceased lay on his right side facing the wall. Witness did not take notice whether deceased fell asleep directly: she left him after having put a pillow under his head. Miss Clark was reading in the room for about twjD hours. "She (Miss Clark) might have gone into the room about an hour after witness l*ft:the deceased. Witness went into the room several times while Miss Clark was sitting there. They talked together. They were : sitting near the deceased, but witn*ss did not notice whether h* was breathing, as she thought he was sleeping. Witness tried to rouse him at about half-past ten. Her son put him in a sitting posture, but could not waken him. They bathed his hands and face in water. His body was warm... fancied at the time that he drew his.breatb^when,the water was put oilhiiii. Deceased was lying in the ..same position when he was awakened as when lie firit laid down. If deceasedhad ■ ■ ' ■ ■ '■.■' :-■■■-■ ; . y '

stirred,' or in any way moved, witness would have remarked it. A doctor was ■ent for. Mr. Denby, chemist, came first, Witness was so excited that she forgot what Mr. Denhy said. The features of deceased were calm, not convulsed in any way. Deceased gave witnes« £15 to keep. Dr. JLethbridge came subsequently. The witness was cross-examined by jurors. • Christina Clark, niece of the la»t witness was next examined. The twopoints in her evidence were—that the deceased was strong enough in the morning to wash his hands, and that he turned his head and stretched his limbs once while he was lying on the Jofa. ' V ; The evidence of Dr. Letbbridge was written arid read as follows.: —I was called to see the deceased last night about 10 o'clock. He was dead, and was lying on his back on a sofa. There was some discoloration of the upper part of the face. I have since held a post-mortem examination of the body. I found the organs of the chest in a perfectly healthy; state. The same may bViaidof those of the abdomen, except that the internal surface of the stomach was deeply injected, and appeared to have been sohlewhafiirnfoted. There was a trace only of foaf|Fl found the brain in an exceedingly tufgid state, i and a considerable quantity of fluid .blood, was noticed on the surface upon opening the head., There was no rupture of brain substance, nor yet of any considerable vessel. The mark s of a Mok over the eyes externally had no'appearance connecting them with the condition of the' brain internally. The cause! <jf death in my opinion was syncope during an attack of apoplectic, coma, superinduced \ij the habitually excessive use of stimulant, and I think that the blood upon the Forehead may have assisted in determining an at- - tack of this kind. , I think heTwas more severely shaken by the' -fall (referred to'■/ in evidence) than he appeared to imagine. I think the account given by the other witness of the symptoms of accused tallied with the causes of death as I found them to be. ■-■■■■-'■ ; ;'-^■• '"-^ Jk^VA'-^A ■ ■

The jury deliberated upon their verdict for some time, and brought in the cause of death to be—that deceased dieiS -from syncope, causedbythecondftionofth^brain —during- an attack of apolectic coma, and not by any violent: means whatsoever, to the knowledge of the jury, ..such cause of death being superinduced^ .by^the ;habitually excessive use of stimulants.