Inquests.

Canterbury Police Gazette, Volume XII, Issue 20, 15 October 1874, Page 144

Inquests.

An inquest was held at Ashburton, on the 2nd September, 1874, before Alfred Saunders, Esq., Acting Coroner, upon the body of Mervyn Henry Winter, aged 2 years and 11 months The jury after hearing the evidence returned a verdict was accidentally drowned in the mill-race running at the back of his father’s house, Ashburton Station.”

An inquest was held at Geraldine, on the 14th September, 1874, before B. Woollcombe, Esq , Coroner, on the body of Charles Smith, aged. 33 years. The jury after hearing the evidence returned a verdict—“ That deceased came to his death in consequence of a fall from his horse.”

An inquest was held at Christchurch, on the 14th day of September, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of Agnes Mouat, aged 23 years, an immigrant ex ship Canterbury, in service at Mr. Andrews, Prebbleton, who drowned herself in a pig tub containing about three feet of water. Verdict ‘ Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.”

N J n< l was held at Lvttelton, on the 14th September, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of r ° d 1 i a 7 m ’ a seam an, on board the schooner J. G Coleson,whose body was found in Lyttelton harbour on the previous day. The jury % 6r < a ® arin £ evidence returned a verdict of—“ Found drowned.”

Aw inquest was held at Christchurch, on the 15 th September, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of John E. Brook, aged 18 months, who fell into a tub of water at it parents’ place at Lincoln, on the 12th September, and was drowned. The jury returned a verdict of—“ Accidental death by drowning.”

Aw inquest was held at Chi'istchurch, on the 16th September, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of James Smith, aged 30 years, an immigrant ex ship Hereford, who died on the morning of the 14th September, in consequence of the rupture of a blood vessel in the heart. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the facts of the case.

Aw inquest was held at Christchurch, on the 21st September, 1874, before G. W. Hall, Esq., J.P., Deputy-Coroner, upon the body of William O’Connor, aged 33 years, an inmate of the Sunn)-side Lunatic Asylum. Dr. Coward made a post mortem examination and deposed that death resulted from disease of the brain, and an abscess of the right lung. The jury returned a verdict of— ‘‘ Died from natural causes.”

Aw inquest was held at Christchurch, on the 28th September, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq, Coroner, on the body of Alfred Herbert Lea, aged 4 years, who had been subject to fits for the last two years. A post mortem examination showed that the brain and lungs were congested, and that the child died in convulsions. Verdict — <c Died from natural causes.”

Aw inquest was held at Ashburton, on the 28th September, 1874,before Alfred Saunders, Esq., J.P., Acting-Coroner, upon the body of James Turnbull, aged 35 years, late shepherd at Lake Coleridge Station, who came by his death from falling over a deep terrace near High Bank Station, Bakaia, on or about the 16th September, 1874 The jury after hearing all the eiddence in the case returned a verdict —“ That deceased died from fracture of the skull, caused by a fall over a terrace into a chasm 150 feet deep.”

Aw inquest was held at Waimate, on the 2nd October, 1874, before B. Woollcombe, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of William Wheeler, an infant, aged 14 days. Erom the evidence afforded by a post mortem , examination, the child’s death was caused by inflammation of the lungs, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Aw inquest was held at Christchurch, on the sth October, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq , Coroner, upon the body of Charles Townsend, aged 2 years, Avho was run over and killed by a railway truck, at Morton’s Crossing, on the South line of railway, on the 3rd inst. The jury after hearing the evidence returned a verdict of—“ Accidental death.”

Aw inquest AA r as held at Christchurch, on the 7th October, 1874, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of Frederick King, aged 22 years, who died from the effect of a gunshot wound, at New Brighton, on the sth October. Deceased had gone to fetch in cattle, taking his father’s gun to shoot swamp hens, and was found dead shortly afterwards, with the gun alongside him. Ihe jury alter hearing all the evidence returned an open verdict, no person having witnessed the occurrence.

Aw inquest was held at Selwyn, on the 10th October, 1874, before W. B. Christie, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of Frederick William Fagan, aged 16 years, who was drowned Avhilst crossing the Bakaia river, on the 7th October, in company with another boy, lor the purpose of collecting firewood. The jury after hearing the evidence returned a verdict of —“ Accidentally drowned.”

Aw inquest was held at Christchurch, on the 12th October, 1874, before J. W S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, upon the body of Jonathan Lilly, aged 75 years, whose body was found in the river near Wilson’s Bridge, Opawa, the previous day. Deceased had been gardener at the Hospital, and received his wages on the Saturday, and was presumed to have got drunk and fallen into the river. His money was found upon his person. There being no evidence to show how deceased got into the river, the jury, by direction of the Coroner, returned an open verdict.