The Tumut and Adelong Times 22 Feb 1927
The Late Mr Jas A. Duffy In last Issue brief mention was made anent the sudden death of Mr. James Alexander Duffy, of Midway, on the Tumut to Gundagai road, which took place on Monday night of last week. After eating tea he took a stroll towards Mr. Martin McCormack's, of Bulga Hut, and later on a motorist observed him prone on the roadside, and hastened with him to his home, but he was dead by the time he reached it, heart failure being the cause. Last Tuesday morning Mr. Coroner Weekes held an inquiry at Midway, as to the cause of death. Constable McPaul deposed: I knew deceased. I have examined his body and there are no marks of violence and nothing to indicate foul play of any kind. As far as I know, deceased was a sober, industrious man. Dr. Byrne, Government Medical Officer, deposed: I have examined deceased's body. I found no marks of violence whatever. There was considerable post mortem stains on different parts of the body. Death was due to natural causes, namely, heart failure. On examination I found an incisional hernia over the side of an appendix scar — he wore a truss which was still in position when I examined the body. This hernia had nothing to do with his death. I consider deceased was about 60 years of age. Ruby Stella Duffy, daughter of deceased, deposed: I lived with deceased at Tarrabandra. He was 60 years of age. Last saw him alive about 8.30 p.m. yesterday in the dining room. He got his hat and walked in the direction of the main road. Next saw him on the ground in front of the house, and he appeared to be dead. A man in a car brought deceased home, and told me he had found him down the road, about half a mile away. I think deceased left a will. Do not think his life was insured, and I know nothing about his financial affairs. Elsie Ellen McCormick deposed: I am daughter of Martin McCormick, and reside with him at Tarrabandra. I knew deceased well — he was a neighbor of ours. About 9 o'clock last night a car drove up to our house and the driver told us he had found deceased on the road, and that he was very bad. He said. "I think he is dead — I came for your father." Myself and sister went to Duffy's and found him lying in front of his house. The man with the car said, "I thought deceased might have been bum ped by a car, and I asked him and he said "No." The man drove off towards Tumut when he left us. Deceased was dead when I saw him. Robert Webb deposed: I am a laborer, residing with deceased's family. Last saw him alive about six o'clock yesternight, when we had tea together. I was present when a stranger in a car brought the body of deceased to his home. He was not quite dead when I saw him. I spoke to him but he did not reply. Deceased was a first cousin of mine, and I have known him all his life. Deceased was a sober, hardworking man and never complained of being ill. Deceased left a widow, one son and three daughters. He held 240 acres of land (on part of which he lived), about 300 sheep, four horses, one cow and calf. When the car brought deceased to his home it was about nine o'clock. The man with the car told me he picked up deceased on the road. The Coroner returned a verdict of death from natural causes. |