THE LATE SUDDEN DEATH. The Inquest.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1676, 3 April 1883, Page 3

THE LATE SUDDEN DEATH. The Inquest.

[FROM OUR OWN CORttESroNDKVT.] Harai'iht,, Saturday. TllK inqiißst on the body of the late Mr Edward Oiaham MeM inn was held heie to-day befoic Mr T. (hesham, coioner, and the following jury :— Messrs John H. Thompson, Isaac Hodgson, \Y. McGuiiU, \V. Jordan, Frank McMinn, Robert Noil, D. Finlayson, Alexander S. Shenett, James Sherrett, Thomas Rosboiotigh, A. C. Ballance, John Fortune. Mr Thompson was chosen foreman of the jury. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken :- Albert Edward Cogswell, sworn, stated : I was in Mr McMinn'a employ ; la«t saw him alive about 10 o'clock at night on Thursday last. He had supper about 8 o'clock, then road the newspaper. Before retiiing to rest he remarked to mo that he felt very tired and hoped to get a g"ood night's rest. He had been up late two or three nights previous by having been absent from home on business. He and I wore alone in the house. We •went to bed at the' same time, J occupying the adjoining room, I awoke at 1 o'clock in the morning, and heard the deceased snoring as usual. On Friday morning I went to milk the cows at 6 o'clock. After 7 o'clock I went to call him to get up. Deceased was lying in his usual monuer. I thought him asleep. Receiving no answer, I took hold of his hand and found he was dead. Theie was nothing unusual in the appeal anco of tho room. lat once went and informed our neighbours, Messis Shcirett, of his death. Alexander Shcritt gave evidence of the last witness having informed him of Mr MeMinn's death about half-past eight on Friday morning. Ho at one went ovei, and saw deceased lying in his bed in a natmal position, as if asleep. .James Sinden, sworn, said : — I am a blacksmith, icsiding at Alexandra. I saw deceased alive last :it my place, he came to get a plough repaiied, after having tea with me, about eight o'clock in the evening, he told me he felt very low and dopressed, nnd .«<> sleepy \v. was aft aid he would fall oil' his diay on the toad home. I advised him, if he felt so bad, not to proceed home, but wait for the moining, and sleep in Alexandra, and we took the plough off the diay again, he consenting. Afterwards, when the moon got up, deceased alteied his mind, and determined to s;o home ; he said it would only civo me trouble to help him catch his hoi so in the morning, that he would walk home, tint would keep him awake. Dr Blunden, M R.C.S., gave evidence that he had examined the body of the deceased, and was of opinion there was an internal lesion of the biain, which cau&cd his death. He had no doubt, -\\ hatever, that he died by natmal o.nmct; , The jury' returned a veulict of death from natural causes. The Funeral. The funeral of the late Mr MeMinn, on Sunday, was mimeiously attended. Friends fiom all pa its. of the distiiet wete ptesent, thus showing th-jii lespectto the deceased gentleman. Repiesuitntives fioir. NiMiuawalua, Hamilton, Ohaupo, Kihikihi, and all the piineipal public men attended, while tho lesidents fiom Haiapepc nnd Alexandra wove piesent almost without exception. The service was most impiessively read by the officiating clergyman, the Rev. Mr Phillips.