Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-04-11
Coroner'a Inquest.

came down to Gold Hill to hold an in
quest as Coroner on the body Of P. o.
Fortin, a Canadian F~renchman, aged about
Sc years, who died yesterday afternoon at
about half-past three o'clock, after an
illness Of thirty-six hours.
The following jurymen were ~empannel-
led and sworn in, on the Coroner's in
quest: d. L. Bliss, E. Skerrett. J. R.
Jennings, H. Harris, W. H. Dolman, G.
W. Pease. Drs. Weber and Hall were
appointed by the Coroner to make a ca
daveric autopsy.
The following is the evidence taken be-
fore the inquest:
L. Coursolles, being sworn, says-The
deceased, Peter Fortin, I have known W
wears /; his age is SO; native OF Canada; on
Monday morning last I was told that
Fortin was nearly dead in his cabin ; l
went up there. and he was lying in bed;
I asked him what was the matter, and he
said he was sick I then told his brother
10 take him to my place where could
attend to him; I took him, with the assist
ance Of his brother, TO my place OF busi-
ness (Montminny's STOREY on a cot; he
could not help himself, but had his senses;
he said he was all busted inside; / attend
ed to him up to the time Of his death; he
told me in the first place that he was hurt
from his stomach down; was coming
down on the grade opposite the Episcopal
Church and fell off the grade, on Sunday
night; after some discourse, he told me it
was none Of my business how he got hurt;
afterwards he said 10 me (Which was
| about five minutes before he died, and
when he was in his sense), II never fell
there. and the reason that l first told you
to was that I vas ashamed TO have any
one know that I got whipped, and il l
had not been drunk they would not have
whipped me; Joe Lahower struck me
over the left eve with an iron nut an inch
and a half square, attached to a piece OF
Irvine d" he fell as soon as he was struck,
and John Bishop jumped on him /; all Of
which occurred in Jacks Saloon. opposite
Halls office. in Gold Hill; this was on
Saturday night or Sunday morning ; at
the time he got struck he was not saying
anything I any one; he was during his
sickness discharging blood from his mouth
and stools; he died yesterday about 8
o'clock P. N.
II Lux, sworn-I know deceased, For
tin was present on last Saturday night
at the saloon, when a dispute occurred be-
tween deceased aud other parties; John
McQuade and Phil. Shea was there; then
John Bishop and Joe La Flower came in
afterwards ; John Laddy. also came in
with La Flower and Bishop; all the par
ties I have named took a drink together,
and talked about old times; during this
time two Irishmen came in.
C. W. Humphrey. sworn-1 am a po-
liceman on Sunday morning, between l
and . o'clock, l met the deceased, Fortain;
he said to me. i have just got whipped
that Joe La Flower had knocked him
down and Bishop kicked him ; said he
felt hurt in above the hip. but did not care
about the cut over the eye; he then said
he could whip either one Of them if l
would 60 with him and see fair play ; l
told him I was an officer, and that he must
90 home or l would take him into GUS
tody he then left me and went home, re-
marking that he would take my advice,
and go home ; / saw him once since, on
Monday evening last at the time l last
saw him he told me, by whispering in my
ear, that he had told me that he fell of
the bank, but i. was not so, and I have
already told you who hurt me.
Lewis Hauck, sworn-Testimony not
important; witness could not identify de-
ceased in the Eight, in Cosgrow Saloon.
W. Harrison, sworn-He testified to a
general fight in a saloon ; saw the de-
ceased there, and saw him cut over the
eye but could not say who hit him.
DR.. Weber. sworn-1 am a physician
and surgeon /; reside in Gold Hill have
examined the body Of deceased, in con-
nection with DR.. Hall /; deceased was in
jured in the abdomen and side-the left
side found the left kidney broken in
two and also a large quantity Of blood
lying in the body; he had bled profusely
from the injury, internally, which caused
his death; he also had a slight wound
over the left eye examined the brain I;
found it in q normal condition ; / found
the parts injured in the abdomen in a high
state of engagement /; the injuries were
most likely to be caused by force applied,
than by falling on an object.
DR.. Hall. 'sworn-This witness corrob-
GRATED the testimony of DR.. Weber, and
had assisted In the examination OF the
body Of deceased.
DR.. CASTOR, sworn-Am a physician ;
attended upon deceased in his last illness;
was called on Monday morning last, be-
tween ! and 2 O'Clock found he had no
pulse, and he appeared to be injured in
ternally--ahout the abdomen and side;
he passed his urine in a bloody state,
which was an evidence Of the injury Of
the uterine organs /; I found him in q criti-
cal condition f; the abdomen was swollen
and bruised on both sides; deceased told
me he had fallen, back Of the Episco-
pal Church it is possible that he might
have received such injuries BY falling /; but
! think not.
VERDICT:
We, the Jury, summoned to inquire
into and investigate the cause of the death
of Peter o. Fortin, do find that the de-
ceased was named Peter o. Fortin ; that
he was q native Of Canada, aged about 81
years that he cam to his death from
bruises and injuries received on the night
Of the 7sh or morning Of the 9Th Of April
A. D. 1866, in.the Town Of Gold Hill. Sto-
rey county, Nevada; that said injuries
were inflicted by the hand Of some person
or persons to this Jury unknown.
Signed G. W. PEAsE, D. L. BLISS, H..
HARRIS, J. R. JENNINGS, W. H. DoLNAS.
E. s. KERRErr.
To Rus THE LISH.-We understand
that Esmeralda county is making prepara-
,inns 10 run the boundary line between