CORONER'S INQUEST.

West Coast Times, Issue 105, 18 January 1866, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Tuesday last an inquest Avafc held at the Tyrone Hotel, before Or BesAvick, (he district coroner, on tin 1 body of man named Thomas Green, who had died in convulsions on the morning of the previous day. Hector Ueton, being sworn, deposed — Ho Avas a bootmaker, and recognised the body as that belonging to a man Avho had lodged in tho same houso as himself, and Avho then told hhn'ho'Avas a storekeeper in Hokitika. Ho seemed a very quiet person, but of intemperate habits. On Friday night last ho ' slopt in tho same room as Avitness, and about seven o'clock the next .morning he aAvoke and said lie wanted some brandy and lemonade. Witness Avent and got it for him. On tho provious ■ evoning he had complained of being unwell. On Saturday night he stated that ho Avas oil right again, arid Avent^ to a barber to get shaved. Witness did not see him aliA'c after that.

John Ilackett, being sworn, deposed — He Avas landlord of the Tyrone Hotel, and that tho body uoav lying in. his house belonged to a party Avho had lodged thoro three nights, and Avhose name he believed Avas Thomas Green. On his first coming to tho house, Avitness, from his appearance, helioved him to be a sober, steady man. Ho volunteered a statement to the effect that he had come from Melbourne, but that previously he Avas a storekeeper to the troops in Auckland. On .Saturday evening last they Avero together in the sitting" room Avhen deceased remarked ho had been drinking for sometime past, but was then getting all right. Witness advised him to take a Avalk before retiring to bed, as tlie fivsh cool air Avduld do him good. He did so and returned about eleven, and after being served Avith a glass of Avhiskey hot retired to bed. lie then appeared in good health. A little after ten o'clock on Sunday morning witness heard a noise in tho bed room of deceased like somo one knocking. lie proceeded at once to see Avhat aviis. the matter, and found him lying on. his stretcher in Avhat Avitness thought Avas a fit of epilepsy, and ho turned him on his side and used such measures as he thought necessary to recover him. t the result being that he Avent off into a kind of sleep, but breathed heavily. Witness then left him, but in about half an hour heard a fall in the room, which induced him to hurry back, and then ho found the deceased lying on his face upon ' tho flour, having fallen out of bed.- Bian.s'cts Avcre placed under him, as he Avas so convulsed it Avas not qonsidercd advisable to replace him in bed. Ho remained in this state until four in tho afternoon, Avhon he seemed a little hotter, making an eirquiry as to Avhero ho Avas. Shortly afterwards, hoAvever, "lie got Avor.se, fit succeeding fit so rapidly, that Avitncs 1 * became alarmed, and went to Dr. Ttyley, telling him the facts of the case, and asked him to visit the sufferer. Witness told tlio doctor thai he had found half a sovereign in the pockets of the man's trousers, and Avould undertake to give him that as his fee if ho avoiiUl come. The Avituess^weut to -Dr. liyloy because ho "was the Hospital Surgeon, and Avould be moro likely to attend a poor patient than a private practitioner. The Doctor, however, replied, ho Avould not come unless he Avas paid his full, fee, but did not say Avluit that Avas. Witness asked him who he ought to

apply to in such a case (meaning a case of destitution), and whether he had better go to tlic magistrate, upon which Dr. llyley stated, that lie -was the proper 'person to come to, and no other. Witness then asked him, if for suffering' humanity's sake he would visit the poor man ; tho Doctor replying, that suffering humanity avouUl not pay him, and that if tho public thought it was his duty to attend to such cases, they were mistaken. •Seems: there was no help to be expected from Dr. Kylcyi witness loft him and proceeded to Dr. Acheson who at once attended upon the sick man, and prescribed for him, and as soon as the medicine wits, made up it was adminstored according" to instructions. Witness sat up Avith the deceased all Sunday night nursing him, and giving him his last dose about' nine o'clock. Tho deceased Avas 'insensible during, tho greater part of tho 'night/ -Witness left him , nine, .ojelook, on „ Monday, evening, to try' and get him admitted into the hospital, but before he returned the man died. -'

The evidence of Joe (Miller was morel) corroborativo of ,thn,t,part of thqtestimony of last, witness ■ immediately relating to deceased. \ ; „ George. Henry Achcson being duly sworn, deposed — He was it legally qualified medical man, ''and about ten o'clock on Sunday night, he was sent for to attend a man lying very ill at the Tyrone Hotel. On visiting him, found ho Was in 'an insonsiblo state,' and upon examination ho imagined from his ap > •poarance he was labouring under an attack of epilepsy, as a quantity of bloody saliva ilowed from both 'side's of his month. Tho eyes were also contorted and the breathing laboured} v\ itnehs prescribed for bun, and after advising Mr Ilackett to try jindgotnim admitted into the hospital, left the house. Tho next morning at half-past nine o'clock |ho met Ilackett, who informed him the deceased had suffered several severe attacks during the night; upon hearing which he sent him im« 1 mediately to tho camp to get an order for his removal into the hospital. Witness then proceeded at once to visit his patient, but on his arrival ho found' the man dead. Witness stated he had made on external examination of tho body, tho appearance of which was that of a healthy, well developed, muscular man, there being nothing remarkable about it but the contortio»~nmVrigidit\> of the feet. A post mortem examination,however, which ho lhadc afterwards' disCoveredcoiisiderabl(\ congcntio'ii bi'ttie lungs with somo old adhesion on tho left side. There was flight hypertrophy of (ho honrt, but/ tho loft o'itvitios wevo Wthyi the vight b,s}g dtotwM wift

venous blood. Tho abdomen was houllhy. The brain was generally congested, and on removing the dura muter he found on the summit of tlio right and left hemispheres a considerable amount of a sort of tubercular matter dipping in betwixt the convolutions. There was also v discoloration and' softening, about the size of a shilling, in thoir immediate neighborhood. On opening the cavities, the vcntri :lea were fo mid distended with serum,| the substance of the brain when cut into was considerably congested, and witness believed deceased died from pressure on the brain, caused bj' old disease. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of died from natural causes, adding as a rider that the conduct of Dr llyley was deserving of censure, in |iot attending to the deceased, Thos. Green, when called upon to do so.