The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889) Thu 12 Dec 1872
87946 SUDDEN DEATH AT BROMPTON.
On Tuesday afternoon, December 10, an in-
quest was held at Hindmarsh, before Dr. Clin-
dening, J.P., and a Jury of 12, upon the body
of Edward Hamence who had died suddenly
at Brompton on the morning of the same day.
Wm. Rose, jun., of Bowden, shoemaker, said—
I saw deceased last alive this morning about
half-past 6 o'clock, trying to raise himself by
the aid of a fence at the corner of Draytonstreet. He had his hands on the top rail. Hewas on his knees on the ground. He did notsucceed in getting up—he appeared too weak.A person named Henry Burford was with me atthe time. We went together to deceased toassist him, and carried him under a verandahabout 40 yards away, belonging, I believe toMr. Biggs. I sent for the doctor, who cameand found him dead. We laid him out under averandah and rolled his coat up into a pillow,and put it under his head. He breathed onlyonce after we laid him out. By the Jury—Hesaid his breath was very short, but said no more.Not more than 10 minutes elapsed from thetime I first saw him until he was dead. MaryHamence, wife of deceased—I last saw himalive at a quarter-past 6 o'clock this morning.He complained of being very short of breath.He did not complain of pain. He has been illfor three months with what was considered acold, but refused to have medical advice. Hehas been spitting blood for three months. Hehad a slight cough, but nothing to create alarm.He appeared very unwell this morning—veryweak, and I did not wish him to go out, but hepersisted in doing so. He was going to hisemployment—that of a carpenter—on Northterrace, at Mr. Codd's. He took a small break-fast, as usual lately. By the Jury—He was 66years of age. By the Coroner—Up to threemonths ago he appeared in very goodhealth. Edward Elphick, of Hindmarsh, legally-qualified medical practitioner, said —I havemade a post mortem examination of the body ofdeceased. I found extensive inflammation ofboth lungs. Then was also enlargement ofsome of the cavities of the heart. There wasdisease from distension, and also from thickening. The large arteries were in a diseased con-dition. The other organs of the body werehealthy. Failure of the heart's action was theimmediate cause of death, and that was theremit of the diseased state of the arteries. Bythe Coroner—There were no marks of violenceexternally. The Jury returned a verdict ofdied from natural causes.