SUDDEN DEATH BY ACCIDENT.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1867, 28 December 1874, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH BY ACCIDENT.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held in the Salutation Hotel this morning, before JamesEilgour, Esq., Coroner, on the remains of Helen Parker, who met with her death at Waiotahi yesterday. The following gentlemen were sworn in as a Jury:—John Rafterty, Howeli "Williams, Jolib Hendy, Theodore Wood, J. J. O'Brien, Robert M'lntosb, W. J. Constant, M. H. Airey, John Nodder, John Le^don, R. Davidson, J. Cocks, and John Moon. Mr M. H. Airey was elected tori?man. The jury went to view the body in the first instance. On returning, Dr Martin Henry Payne was the first witness examined. He said he had made a post mortem examination of the body. Fcund a large wound externally on tine back of the head. The wound penetrated to the bone, but th« bone was sot injured. On removing the skull cap, found the membranes very much congested, and the same c ndition presented itself down to the brain. He attributed the cause of death to concussion and shock., Did not examine any other cavity of the body. There was no other injury, excepting a small scratch on the forehead. By Mr BulJei—The injuries to the head external and internal could be produced by a fall over a bank of nine feet. Mary Ann Parker, a daughter of deceased, was next examined. Her evidence went to show that her mother had complained of a headache on Saturday night, and had thrown her arms around her daughter and kissed her. Witness then went out, and on returning saw her mother talking to a man. fche again went out to a dance and had not seen her mother a ive snce. She returned from the dance at about 10 o'clock, but did not find her mother at home. She went to bed. Sometimes her mother would be out late. By Mi* Sullen—Had been residing with her mother in Shortland. Hey brother was the only other person in the house. Had a sister in the Waiotahi—a Mrs Chapel. Witness' father was alive. He had not been at home for six years. Witness' mother was in' the habit of visiting Mrs Chapel. Her mother had, for the last three or four weeks, been in the habit of taking liqour, not before. Witness did not think her mother had had any at all at the last time she saw her on Saturday night. She did not look well, but appeared sober. Emily Richards, wife; to Richard Richards, of the George Hotel, Pollen street, Grahamstown, examined by Mr Bullen, deposed that deceased came ia tho side dcor of the hotel at a little after 10 o'clock. There was a man named Jacob with her. Deceased sat down on the sofa. The man abked for a drink, and witness would not serve him. The woman asked for nothing. Dd, not serve them becaus.e the woman looked as if she had bf en drinking. Could not say whether the man was sober. Deceased never spoke. They went out both together. Witness was certain Jacob was the man, from his.appearance. It would be about, 10 minutes past ten when they left. A number of the boarders of the house were present, but they bad no conversation with either the deceased or Tacob. Could not say whether Jacob was sober. Should have perceived it had he been drunk. By a juror : x Deceased walked firmly. It was only the Appearance of the face

that suggested she had been drinking. Did not know deceased, so could not say whether she usually wore the same expression of countenance. Jacob Thomas, a miner living at Punga Flat, deposed that on Saturday night he was a little the worse, for drink. Was not aware that he had been in . the company of Ellen Parker!l Had no recollection of seeing her, excepting when ho talked behind her up the Waiotahi Creek. Was not acquainted with her even by siuht. Passed the deceased at the George Hotel going up the bank of the road up the Waiotahi. Was about fire or six yard* in' advance of deceased when she fell. Knew she fell because he heard the noise behind him, when he looked round and saw her going over the bank. Witness went to lift her up, but she did not? seem able to stand. Her head was bleeding. Deceased said, V f Let me alone; I am dying;" or something like that. AnothYr person then came up. He went for the police, and witnesa waited by her the while. The time was about one o'clock. Peceasedwas walking unsteadily. , Witness had been at the sports during the day. Spent some of the evening in the New Caledonia; Hotel, after leaving which he remembered;very little. Recollected nothing of what he did on leaving the New Caledonia. Was an uumarried man. By Mr Bullen : Was not in the George Hotel with deceased. She said something to him going up the hill. Passed deceased just at the George, and deceased followed him tip. Had no quarrel with the deceased that night. Could not T account for Mrs Richards' statement that he had been in the George with deceased. He must have been drunk. Mr Chapman came immediately after deceased fell over. Had no drink after the accident. He-examined by Mr Bullen: I was sober enough to walk home. I had plenty of company. , John Alwent Chapman, Mining Agent, deposed that he resided at the Waiotahi. On Saturday nipht when going home he saw a man standing, on the machine si c of the Queen of Beauty. He heard two moans, and stopped. Saw a woman lying on the ground, the man standing at her head. The man (thought it was the last witness) said the woman had fallen over the bank. He was giving the woman no assistance, and said he did not know whether she was hurt. When witness jeturned from informing the police the Woman and man were in the same position. Deceased said something in a low tone about being hurt. Witness heard Thomas say to the first Constable she fell over the bank, but to the second Com tab'e he prevaricated a little by "saying ''he supposed she did." The blood from the wound had soaked into the ground. Was under the impression that deceased had laid there some time. There was plenty of room to walk. John Hugh Smith, constable in the Armed Constabulary, deposed to having been met by Mr Chapman, and taken to where decease I was lying; She was lying on her back, with Thomas standing at her head. In reply to a question from witness, Thomas gave an .undecided answer as to whether he knew the woman. He also contradicted himself When asked whether he had seen her fall. Deceased recognised Sergeant Elliott and Constable Madill, and asked to be taken home. Could not get any direct answer from; Thomas. Had to use strong language to keep him where he was. / He was not drunk, though he had been drinking. Deceased had no covering on her head, 'but there was a hat alongside. l Sergeant Elliott deposed that he used means to restore deceased to consciousness when he reached the spot. He questioned her, but could elicit nothing as to how she fell. The hour was about j one o'clock. This concluded the evidence, and Mr Bul'en suggested that the enquiry be adjourned for a day or two, in order that some clue may be ascertained as to the whereabouts of Thomas and the deceased up to the time of the accident. In answer to a juror, Mr Bullen said | he did not wish to press for an adjourn-; ment, as t'rom the evidence it would seem that deceased wat once sufficiently conscious after the occunence to make an accusation. The jury then considered briefly among themselves, and brought in a verdict of " Accidental death caused by excess of drink."