CORONERS INQUEST.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2896, 30 September 1869, Page 3

CORONERS INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday, ab 5 o'clock, p.m. at the Wellington gaol, before Dr Boor, coroner, and the following jury : — G\ Snelson (foreman), J. Mulligan, J. Laurie, John Kershaw, R. Port, W. Taylor, George Jenness, John Houghton, H. Scott, W. M'Lean, James G-illigan,' J. S. Horton.

W. Lyon, Esq., J.P., visiting justice, was in attendance to watch the proceedings.

Thomas George deposed : I am a turnkey in the Wellington G-nol. The deceased, Wi Tamararo, was a prisoner confined in gaol. He Las 1 been confined in gaol for about a fortnight.' He was oonfined in a cell, in a corridor of ten cells. I last saw him alive at ten minutes past twelve o'clock today, the 29th September, in his cell. I took him his dinner in a tin dish, on which was a spoon. He made no remark to mo. I left it with him., At one o'clock I went to him again to remove hi3. dinner plate. When I came to the door of his cell, I saw a leather strap passed tin ough the narrow .chink where the trap-door closes, over the iron bar that fastened the trap. I tried to open the trap door, but could not, it being fixed. I then took out my knife and cut the strap. When I cut the strap, I heard something heavy fall down. On opening the d00r,. 1 1 found it was the body of the prisoner, Wi Tamararo, who was on his knees with his head bent forward on the ground. He had a blanket over his shoulders, and a shawl round his head. I removed the shawl from deceased's head in the presence of the turnkey Donaldson, whom I sent for. I sent Tricker, one of the prisoners, who was with rue when I opened the cell, for Donaldson. I saw a strap round Wi Tamararo's neck. It was tight, but I had no difficulty in removing it. The other end of the- strap I had divided with my knife before JE opened the cell door. The strap round the neck' is . 28£ inches long and threequartera of an inch wide. It, was tied with a piece of worsted, about 2^ inolies from the end. The piece that was cut off is 8f inches in length ; it had a knot in it. Donaldson and I, assisted by Tricker, lifted the body of Wi Tamararo into the "passage. He appeared quite dead. The body was warm. His face was Bwollen and dark, and his tongue protruded. I sent for Mr Read, the Warden of the G-aol. Four inches from the buckle end of the strap a piece of scarf skin was attached.

By a Juror : I v/as alone when I cufe the strap Tricker had gone for Donaldson. There is a recent grase on the back of. the strap, as if the buckle had been dragged forcibly through.

James Donaldson deposed : I ana a turnkey in the Wellington Gaol. A few minutes past one o'clock this afternoon I was called for by Tricker, a prisoner, to bring the keys of the cells to turnkey Q-eorge. I went with the. keys and unlocked, the cell in which the native Tamararo was con-, Hned. Immediately, the door was opened I saw the body of Tamararo lying across the doorway on ir« left side. I caught hold of it, and assisted by Tricker: removed the. body into the corridor. The deceased had on an old shawl wrapped round his face and head, which I helped to remove. On removing the shawl, I saw a strap tight round his neck. The strap produced is the same. I examined- the body, and it felt quite warm, but appeared to me to be dead. I then went and informed Mr Read, the warden of the gaol. He came into the gaol with me, and looked at the body. He sent me for the first doctor I could meet with. I went to Dr Burrows' residence but he was not in. I then went to Dr France's residence, and he also was not at home. I then took a cab and drove to Dr Johnston's, and from thence to the hospital. I then saw Drs Johnston and Burrows, I informed them of what had occurred, and Dr Burrows, who had his horse .there, rode off to the gaol at once. It was about twenty minutes from the time I left the gaol until I arrived at the hospital. Dr Johnston returned to the gaol in fc'ae cab with me. .

Micaiali Read deposed : I am Warden of the Wellington Graol. The deceased, Wi Tainararo, has been in gaol since the 14th September, He was tried at the Supreme Court on Monday last, the 27th September, and sentenced the same day. He was in good health, and apparently in a sound state of mind. I saw him last alive, at half-past 9 o'clock this morning, in his cell. I hud come conversation with him, through one of the prisoners, who acted as interpreter. I had given Wi Tamararo a testament and prayer book in the Maori language. When I first saw him, he was aUnding with them in his hand. He asked why I had given him those books if he was to be hanged. I told him they were for him to read in order to prepare for death. I advised him to read them, and not to indulge in any false hopes that his life would he spared. He made no remark that would lead me to think that he contemplated taking his own life. He seemed in good spirits. I Baw no more of him, until about fivu minutes past one o'clock to-day, when Donaldson came to me, and from what ho told me, I immediately ran to the gaol. When I arrived at the western corridor, I saw the body of Wi Tamarnro lying on the llobr, the face was swollen, and there was a slight bleeding at the nose. The . body was very warm, but there was no pulae. It had the appearance of being strangled. I saw a mark round the neck, as if a flat band of about three-quarters of an inch had, been round it. I immediately sent for a.doctor, and went and informed the visiting Justices. No one but the Turnkeys can go to the cells, as the keys are in their possession. From the bottom of the trap door to the ground is four feet two inches. From the bottom ox the iron bar to the ground is four . feet seven and a half inches. Dr Burrows arrived at the gaol about half-past one, o'clock, and was immediately fa'lowed by Dr Johnston. Wil'iain Adcock Burrows deposed : lam a registered medical practionerresirling in Wellington. I was called to the gaol about half-past I o'clock, this afternoon, the 29th irJept. I found the body of a Maori lying in the corridor ; life was quite extinct ; the body was warm ; the head and face swollen, dark, and cougr-sted, and there was a slight discharge from the nostrils ; the tongue protruded. It had all the appearances of having been strangled. There was a mark round the neck, as if caused by a flat band of about three-quarters of an inch wide. The strap produced would cause such a mark. The body might have been dead from half-an-hour to an hour. When I arrived at the gaol ' there was not the slightest sign of vitality. I examined the neck. There was no dislocation of the vertebra), nor any sign of external injury. Had assistance beeu at hand immediately after finishing the act, where only congestion exists, ifc is possible that life might be recovered. I attribute the cause of death to strangulation. Micaiah Eead, recalled, said : I have enquired from the prisoner in the adjoining cell, and he Btates that he heard no noise whatever between twelve and one o'clock to-day. There was a noiße that he hoard yesterday. The deceased was under sentence of death.

The 1 jury, after mature consideration, returned a verdict' of suicide by strangulation, whilst iifa state of sound mind. ■•