David Hugh, a resident of Waikouaiti, was found in a fit outside his hut on Friday morning. As his condition appeared to be very bad the police removed him to the Dunedin Hospital, where he arrived about one o'clock on the same day in an unconscious state. Medical attendance was at once rendered him, but he died on Saturday morning about five o'clock. An inquest will be held before Mr Carew to-morning morning at eleven o'clock. -Evening Star, 28/9/1891.
At eleven o'clock this morning Mr Carew held an inquest in the hospital on the body of David Hugh, who died in the institution on Saturday morning. Mr James Horsburgh was chosen foreman of the jury.
James Fell, a schoolboy, residing at Waikouaiti, recognised the body shown to the jury as that of David Hugh, a laborer, who lately resided in a small house belonging to Mr Reeves at Waikouaiti. Last Thursday morning, at half-past seven, witness was out with milk, and when returning home near deceased's house he saw the deceased lying on the ground near to the door of his house. Witness did not go within thirty yards of him, but went and told Mr Crockett, who sent witness for assistance. When witness got back he went into deceased's house, and saw deceased lying on the sofa, with Mr Crockett attending to him.
Constable Bird stated that last Thursday he was in Dunedin. He did not return to Waikouaiti until half-past five. He was informed of deceased having been found outside his house, and at once went to the place. Deceased had several wounds about his face and hands. On Friday witness had the man removed to the Dunedin Hospital. On Saturday Dr Hislop, of Palmerston, told witness he had seen the deceased on Thursday. The doctor said that deceased then appeared like a man suffering from an apoplectic fit. The bruises on the man's face and hands, the doctor also said, might have been caused by a fall when the man was first attended with a fit or by knocking himself about after the fit had passed off. The place where deceased was found was covered with gravel, and at the spot where his hand was resting the gravel was disturbed, which would account for the bruises on his hand. Deceased was unconscious when witness first saw him on Thursday, and he was unconscious when he went into the hospital. Witness had made inquiries, and found that deceased had not been near a public-house for over a month. Mr Crockett told witness that when he found deceased the face was covered with blood, and the left eye was full of mud and gravel, and one hand was badly cut. Deceased was found at the back door with his head partly worked under the weatherboard. The door of the house was locked, the key being in deceased's pocket. His coat was wet, and from that fact Mr Crockett concluded that deceased had been out all night. Deceased was a bootmaker by trade, but for many years had been earning his living as a laborer. Witness had heard that deceased was born in Wales, and had been over twenty years in the colony. At the shearing before last he was working near a woolpress, when he fell and struck his head against a bolt. He was unconscious for some time after the accident, and had not been the same man since. Deceased was married, his wife and family being at Home. He had some friends in Melbourne, and witness believed he had also a friend resident on the Peninsula. Deceased was about sixty-two years of age.
The Coroner remarked that portion of the evidence was second-hand, as it was considered inadvisable to bring a number of witnesses in from Palmerston and Waikouaiti.
Dr Copland stated that deceased was admitted to the hospital on Friday afternoon in an unconscious state. He had bruises about both eyes, on the left temple above the ear, and one of his hands was bruised and scratched. He remained in the same condition until the morning of Saturday, when he died. Deceased had all the appearance of a man suffering from apoplexy.
The jury returned a verdict of "Death from apoplexy." -Evening Star, 29/9/1891.
I have found no records of David Hugh's resting place.
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