Death of George Stewart - 24 February 1875
As reported in the Wagga Wagga Advertiser, Saturday, February 27, 1875
The District Coroner held an inquest at Currawarrena on Thursday, on the body of George Stewart, a carrier who had been employed in drawing timber from the saw mills at that place, and was found dead in his waggon on Wednesday. James Angel, with other witnesses gave evidence as to the intemperate habits of the deceased, and stated that on Wednesday morning between 6 and 7 o'clock he was passing the camp of deceased, and saw that he was lying in his waggon. Thinking that the man looked as if he was dead, he went up to the waggon to see if it were so, and found that he was dead. The body lay on its back in an easy position as in sleep, and was fully clothed except that the hat lay beside it, there was nothing lying upon deceased, and nothing that could have impeded his breathing. Witness gave information to Mr. Gibbs of the saw-mills, and to the men in his employment that Stuart (was dead), Dr. Wren who made a post mortem examination of the body, stated that he found no external marks of injury. On opening the chest the sac of the heart was found to be enormously enlarged and distended. On opening the sac he found a large accumulation of congulated blood. Deceased had suffered from aneurism of the heart, and the immediate cause of death was the sudden rupture of the vessels of the heart. The cause of death was so evident he did not examine further. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was then returned.
As reported in the Wagga Wagga Express February 27, 1875
Inquest - On Thursday last an inquest was held at Currawarna, before the District Coroner, Mr F.A. Tompson, upon the body of one George Stewart.
Christina Cheeseman desposed: I am the wife of John Cheeseman, farmer, and reside at Wagga Wagga; have seen the body, the subject of this inquest, and identify it as that of my son George Stewart, by my former marriage; he was thirty-three years of age; he has been complaining a great deal lately, and had, as I believe, some affection of the heart; he would sometimes take a drop of spirits, but I never saw him the worse for it; on Monday morning last, the 22nd inst, he left my house, and was then in good health; when he came there, a short time perviously, he told me he had had a sunstroke; believe he has been for years suffering from heart disease; yesterday, the 24th inst, received information that he had been found dead in his waggon; he was a carrier, and was not married.
Edmund Gibbs deposed: I am a sawyer, and reside at the Keerawareena Sawmills; have seen the body which forms the subject of this inquest, and identify it as that of one George Stewart, who had been in my employment; had many opportunities of observing him, and never saw him ill; never heard him complain of being so, except from the effects of drink; know he was addicted to habits of intemperance; last saw him alive at 1 o'clock yesterday morning, the 24th inst; then saw him looking at his horses across the lagoon; he was then sober; was near enough to observe him, and know he was sober; from Christmas time until about three weeks since, he was drinking very heavily; latterly he had not done so to the same extent, so far as I know.
Thomas Neal deposed: I am engine-driver at the Keerawareena Sawmills; knew the deceased, George Stewart, whose body I have just viewed; he was in the habit of coming to the pit for timber; during the past four months, I do not thing I have ever seen him one day perfectly sober; he was always in a muddled state; he complained of his heart; he said that some medical man had told him he had disease of the heart, and that if he did not leave off drinking, it would kill him; I said "Then, why dont you leave off drinking, George?" and he replied, "I can't"; this was about the second week in January.
James Angel deposed: I am a farmer, and reside at Tooyal; have seen the body upon which this inquiry is being held, and identify as that of one George Stewart, a carrier, whom I knew; have seen him the worse for liquor several times, but especially a little after Christmas; never heard him complain of illness; yesterday morning, the 24th inst, between 6 and 7 o'clock, was passing the camp of the deceased, and saw him lying in his waggon; thought he looked as if he were dead, and turned back and went up to the waggon to see; then found he was dead; the body lay on its back, in an easy position, as in sleep; the body was fully clothed, except that the hat lay beside it; there was nothing lying upon deceased, and nothing which could have impeded his breathing; gave information to Mr Gibbes, and to the men at the mill, that Stewart was dead.
Erasmus Wren deposed: I am a duly qualified medical pracitioner, residing in Wagga Wagga; have made a post mortem examination of the body of George Stewart, now lying dead here; there were no marks of external injury upon the body; on opening the chest, found the sac of the heart enormously enlarged and distended; on opening the sac, found a large accumulation of coagulated blood; deceased had suffered from aneurism of the heart and the immediate cause of death was the sudden rupture of the vessels on the heart; the cause of death was so evident that I did not examine further; indulgence in intemperance would greatly hasten the effects observed.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the above testimony.
SUDDEN DEATH. - Elsewhere will be found the report of an inquest held upon a man named George Stewart, who died suddenly at Currawarna on Wednesday last. He had been suffering from heart disease for some time, and was found dead in his dray. The deceased was 33 years of age.