The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-25
MR.. wALTON'S TESTIMONY.
The Dying Words Of Deceased In
the Boat and on the Shore.
HARRY KELLEY's STORY.
RenfOrth Subject to Epileptic
Attacks.
FULLER AND PERCY's STATEMENTS


Renforth the English oarsman, yesterday, was
opened before Coroner Earle and jury at halfpast
ten O'Clock. The court room was nearly full OF
decorous and interested people, few OF whom wore
the aspect OF curiosity seekers lovers OF the SEN
satlonal in every day life. Mr.. Oldham. with the
three surviving members Of the crew-Chsmbers.
Harry Kelley and Percy-occuped chairs al the right
oil the Coroner's desk, ana their faces wore a sad
and melancholy appearance.
After the usual premlnaries had been gone
through with, Mr.. Walton, OF the Newcastle Eng
land Chronicle and warm personal friend OF Rem
forth, called to the stand. He delivered his
70 s;imony in suedued tone OF voice. sometimes In
terrupted by sob. and seemed to have the SYM
pathies OF all who were present. In substance
he detailed the mode Of life OF the deceased
for the past five years. stating that he had been
SUBJECT TO EPILEPTIc FITS.
having had nve since the witness could remember
The last one occurred last September about three
hours after the at Lachine continuing for ten
minutes. Since that time 80 far rs Mr.. Walton
could know, Renf0rth had been In excellent health.
Prom I'VE O'Clock to twenty-five minutes past SIX
yesterday morning Kelley, Renforth and Walton
were together In room at the Clairmont house,
and Renforth appeared in high spirits To use the
witness own expression, ~ never saw him look so
well In my ufe." Alter the
PERUsAL OF LETTERS FROM HOME
which had just arrived Renf0rth went out In the
hotel yard and mingled with the crowd there con-
gregated, chatting away in high glee. From that
time unfit the deceased was brought on shore the
witness was unacQualnted with his Whereabouts,
next seeing him IS he lay stiff If dead in Harry
Kelley's arms MIR. Walton followed the carriage to
the hotel, and entered room where Renforth lay In
bed. He sal by the bedside and asked, what is the
matterr'
jim HAVE YOU GOT PITSn
Rentorth replied, ION, no. it's not fits. I'll tell you
Ill after -" and his mouth became 80 filed with
white mucous that he was unable to finish the sen.
tsnce MI. Walton asked II he had eaten or drank
anything since breakfast but RenfOrths eyes began
TO roll wildly about and he appeared deliriOus. All
he could say was a repeutloh OF the half sentence
quoted above. but his weakness would not permit
hum to finish II.
Harry Kelley supported his head and the others Of
the crew were ousily cnanhg his limbs ana with
not annels ana small doses OF brandy and water en-
desyored fruitessy quicken the circulation Of the
blood.
DR.. McLaren soon arrived on the spot and
KNDRAvORED TO BLEED
the patient; but although he opened veins In each
arm he was not able to extract bu. q few drops Of
thick, black. concealed blood.
RenfOrth attempted several times to vOmtt but
although he FETCHED feariully he could raise no.
thing. He began to sins rapidly. His
FACE GREW LIvID,
and the moth which had choked his utterance In.
creased In alarming quantity. At twenty minutes
OF nine O'Clock he struggled for BREATH and with
mighty effort he murmured almost nartlculately,
the words,
poor harry'-referrng, probably, to Kelly. who
was his bosom friend. At precisely forty five
minutes past eight O'Clock James Renforth was
dead
Mr. wALToNs STATEMENT
At the suggestion OF DR.. McLaren Mr. Walton
stated that at the time he first spoke to Renforth
and when he replied. ION, no; 1t not 1T; III tell
you all ABOUT il afterwards" ct the same time shak
for rs sapposna nat might nj BE- az Inc "
WHAT RENFORTH SAID TO KELLEY.
ke s in the s' bos ss nas nn he
thing"-an Old Country expression-which means
that something harmful had been given him.
and thinking that he meant to convey to me
that something had been gwen him to
think. as tne symptoms might have proceeded from
many causes; Afterwards. az the case proceeded,
THE DEATH WAS FROM NATURAL CAUSES
ana rom these alone; am OF that opinion now;
was present at the postrnorem examination OF de-
sion OF the heart and the stomach and its contents
he has them now.
HENRY KELLEY SWORN.
belong to Fulham, near London England; am
waterman by business; have known deceased about
dine he lived here until last Sunday, when the
whole or US had about I'VE mile walk; this was in
run some distance ahead OF us; we overlook MIN m
while he was walking; he complained q little OF
feeling queer In his side; We all walked slowly on
leavng MIN behind anu conveyance came BY and
took HIM TO the Clsremont House; we reached there
some i've minutes after him. and | asked him what
and in his head; he had little brandy and water
and lay down on the bed; he said he felt much bet
plants from him; deceased and roomed together;
YESTERDAY MORNING
up p Cur ana pas, Ionr as did also
about eve, taking the same food; after breakfast
We all retired to our bedroom and remained there
about one hour reading the newspaper; Chambers
and Percy retired and went TO their own room, ana
Renforth went out; he was out about twenty
minutes; when he came back / was putting my
rowing clothes on; he put his on, and we went TO
where Chambers and Percy were, and we all
walked to the rivers side; 1
NEVER SAW RENFoRTH IN BETTER SPIRITS
than he then was; We had the boat carried out OF
the barn and took our seats rowing out TO the start
Ing point directly we arrived out there the Paris
crew got into their boat; deceased said to Fulton,
the stroke OF the other boat that we need not start
further was spoken until the START for the FIRST quar-
Yer OF mile, tnink, we were gaining something
during that distance; said TO Renforth,
IT'S ALL OVER"
meaning that the race was in our hands; we were
then not going nearly SO last are the habit
OF going-no racing pace; saw
THE PARIS CREW GRADUALLY GAINING UPON Us.
and called upon Renforgh for ga dozen'-meaning
q dozen strokes little quicker; but there was no
other quarter OF a mile, when Renfortn quickly
looked over his shoulder at me and said
"uARRY, HARRY, i've had soMErHISs;v
said, whats the matterf'' he then threw him.
sell forward and said. '1s It up, Jimf' and he
came back into my lap when l caught him in my
arms told Percy and Chambers TO
RUN THE BOAT ASHORE;
they did so; Percy got out FIRST and, Jumping into
the water, with the assistance OF parties on shore
lifted Renfortn TO q carriage and drove Tor home; We
TOOK HIM TO HIS OWN ROOM;
ne did not speak word ana did not stand up;
asked hlm how be was; he said, 20 Harry"
SAID, you'll be better" some one In the room
mace the remark about It's being III; he answered,
IT'S NO FIT; I'LL TELL you ALL ABOUT IT;'
ne made some other short remarks about his hands
AND breath from the time he was taken Iii until he
was about three hours and quarter; from the re-
MARKS mat deceased made In the boat and after
wards thought there had been some
FOUL PLAY
that ne had been tempered with; will not now ex,
mony Will explain that.
TO A JUROR
l never heard deceased make use NJ onv axnros
sion as 10 what ne would do II they lost the race. We
were not over-exerting ourselves at Inc time ia |
fell: were rowing about thirty-six in the mr.
ute; never saw heniorth IN one OF his s: his iace