INQUEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 681, 1 February 1881, Page 2

INQUEST.

Ak. inquest was held yesterday at Opaki iby-Dr Spratt, the District Coroner, on the ; body of the'late William Bead Welch. . Jamqs Henry Roberts, • being sworn, said; JJiat 'orThuraday last," 27th Jan,, 1831,.hi) saw the deceased, Mr William Read Welch; he (witness).was working with the, horses, at .the • Opaki—Station,, about 4 p.m, Deceased then seemed quite well in mind and body, excepting that he complained of a pain in his back. Witness saw him frequently that afternoon and evening, slept in the same house, and noticed nothing peculiar in him all that time, Had known him for five years, On the following day (Friday) witness again saw deceased repeatedly throughout the day, and noticed nothing peculiar about him, except that that he seemed ill, and not able to work, .Late in th'e evening they had tea together; he eat nothing; he drank tea only. He looked very ~wild about the eyes, When he. came in he asked for a pint of water, Witness said to him that he appeared ill He- replied that he hid got a cold. Soon after, he took a aandle and went to bed. Soon after this, he got up and went outside; about an hour afterwards he came in. Witness then heard him go out again directly, and never heard him afterwards, In the morning witness went into decoased's room, and finding that he had not been into his bed, sent word to his brother, Mr Henry Welch, to that effect, Parties were out searching for deceased all Saturday, and Sunday morning the body was found. Witness saw the body, and helped remove it, it was lying about 200 yards away from the house-lying partly on the face, Both hands were under deceased, the right hand being olenohed, grasping a pocket-knife. It was a small, ordinary tobacco-knife, with a very sharp point. He had a small wound, as if the knife had been thrust into his throat. It only seemed about half-an-inch long, as if from a stab in the middle of his throat, just above his breast-bone. There was blood all over his neck, and on the ground. He had bled a good deal. He must have died there and then,, where lie was stabbed.: His right hand, and the knife he held, were covered with blood .

Edward Ooates' deposed that, he found the body of deceased on : Sunday morning about 'ten - chains away from' the house at Opaki station, He was' quite dead and cold and stiff, lying on his right side, The' right hand cl.utched a pocket knife. Did not search'lii'm at that moment, but soon after went with Roberts to help remove the body. „ Richard Read Welch deposed he saw his brother:(deceased) last Thursday and Friday,-. • Deceased had recently come from the Huttr and arrived at Opaki station on Thursday last, : Witness noticed at first that his . manner seemed strange; he did not shake haiids the same as usual, Witness-observed to his brother that deceased looked as if he-had been drinking very, hard and had-delirium; tremens or: something of thekM.fleaaked deceased 1 if he woulij'gb. aniwater the-horses, but took.;no notice-; ; .he: -sat down-and said nothing. . : About dinner • time he com■plained of beicg he had-a pain in his back arid had been; spitting- blood, The nsxt day he,seemed v'ery. ill and had a wild look about the eyes'.. On one occasion witness asked him if he would come to the house and Jiave a glass of spirits. He asked how far it was. Witness replied that he ought to.know, he could see the house, it was only" fourJor five hundred yards off, Heieemedstupid inh'is mind from drinking. -He-had a little., spirits and. something-to eat. 'He seemed better that afternoon and tried to do a little fork..: Others. noticed that he- : seemed queer in his head and did not know what Jielwa#'doing,'. 'Witness.had known him to be a little strange in his head before after-he had'-beeii drinking very much. The jury! of which Mr Chapman was foreman, ;;retufne'.d : the following -verdict l^/'; '' ' That the deceased,-William R, Welch, dibd oh. the 28th day of January,.lßßl, at tho. Opaki Station, near Masterton, he haying stabbed himself in the throat while suffering from delirium tremens, from the effects of whioh he then and there died,