Coronial Inquiry

Joseph Herbert Summerbell

On oath saith: "I am a seaman at present residing in Maryborough. I remember yesterday the 2nd instant, I was passing along Adelaide Street about 5 o'clock in the afternoon near Murray's store.

I noticed a bullock dray there. I saw a man standing on the top of the dray. He was receiving some bags of potatoes from two men below and stacking them on the dray. I passed the dray and went up the street towards The Australian Hotel.

Just after passing the dray I looked round and saw a man falling from the dray just at the hind wheel. The man I saw falling was the man I had previously seen on the top of the dray. I then walked towards the dray and saw the man carried to the Australian Hotel.

I afterwards saw him in the Hotel lying on a couch. I followed him into the Hotel. He was insensible then and only opened his eyes. I saw him
again about half past nine. He was then lying on the couch and still insensible.

I saw him again this morning. He was, still on the couch. I heard a noise in his throat and a few minutes afterwards, I turned round and saw he was dead.

The man now pointed out to me as William Fuller is one of the men I saw carrying the man into the Australian Hotel. I don't know who the other man was that was assisting to carry the man."

Carl Jocumsen

On oath saith: "I am a Licensed Victualler keeping the Australian Hotel in Adelaide St. Maryborough. I remember yesterday, 2nd instant about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I saw William Fuller, Sam Wells the tinsmith, and another man carrying a man into my hotel.

The man they were carrying appeared to be sick. I asked what was the matter with him and William Fuller said he had fallen off a dray.

William Fuller who afterwards told me he was a son of the deceased asked me if he could remain on the couch. I said yes but I would rather you have a bed for him.

The man was insensible. Then I told the man (Fuller) he ought to have a bed for his father to lie on. He said, I think he will be better in about an hours time.

He then went away. He returned between 8 and 9 the same evening. His father was still lying on the couch in an insensible condition. He appeared to be sleeping.

I said to William Fuller 'won't you go for a doctor for him tonight?' He said, Where would I go to, Who will I go to?. I said 'Dr. Garde at the hospital'. He then said, ' I think I'll leave him till tomorrow morning'.

I again said to him, Shall we put him into bed ' He said, 'no, I think he will be best where he is if you cover him with a blanket'. I then put a blanket over him. I left him there on the couch all night by himself.

I saw him the next morning. He was then breathing very hard and appeared to be in the same state as the night before. He expired about ten minutes after I first saw him.

I went into the bar and heard a noise coming from his throat. I went back to him and saw some froth coming from his mouth. He then died.

I reported the matter to the police immediately afterwards and also told his son who came to see him after he was dead."

William Fuller

On oath saith: I am a carrier residing at Didcot near Gayndah. I came into Maryborough on the morning of 2nd instant with a team of bullocks. My father was with me. We had the team in front of Murray's Store in Adelaide St., Maryborough. We were taking a load of potatoes into the dray.

My father was on the dray receiving the potatoes from me and Mr. Murray's man and stacking them. My father lied 90 bags of potatoes on the farthest side from me and fell on to the ground. He fell on his right side and shoulder. I went and picked him up and he did not speak.

I, with three others carried him into the Australian Hotel. I asked the Landlord to let me leave him on the sofa. My father was put on the sofa. I then went away to the camp at The Carriers Arms with my team. I put my father in charge of the Landlord. I told him to give him whatever he wanted and he replied 'He will be alright here'.

I returned about 8 o'clock. My father was still lying on the sofa. He seemed to be sleeping easy. I did not do anything to him. I don't remember anyone suggesting to me to send for a doctor. I stayed with my father about half an hour. I tried to wake my father but could not.

I went away to look after my property. I returned the following morning because a message was sent for me. When I got there I found my father was dead. He was sixty-six years old."

David Watkins O'Connor

On oath saith: "I am a duly qualified Medical Practitioner residing in Maryborough. I examined the dead body of a man lying in a little outhouse at the Australian Hotel today the 3rd instant.

His body was covered with a blanket and was still warm Rigor Mortis was fully developed. There was some blood on the right side of his head. I should think he was dead about 4 or 5 hours.

After hearing the evidence, I am of opinion that he died of concussion of the brain. I am also of opinion that had he been attended to at the proper time his life might have been saved.

It was about half past 12 today when I examined him."

Richard Henry Bowe

On oath saith: "I am a grocer in the employ of Mr. Murray of Adelaide
Street, Maryborough. I know William Fuller the man now pointed out to me. Between 5 and 6 o'clock, on 2nd instant, I was assisting him put potatoes on a dray outside Mr. Murray's shop.

Fuller's father was on top of the dray receiving the potatoes from us. I heard a noise and Fuller said to me, 'The old man's fallen off the dray'. When I got round the other side of the dray, Fuller had got his father in a sitting position on the ground.

I then went for some water to pour on his head. He was then carried to the Australian Hotel. He was sober at the time he fell off the dray. He had a glass of grog. When he was lifted from the ground by his son, he was insensible and remained insensible till he was carried away."