Michael Gorey Inquest

August 1st 1908

PROCEEDINGS OF INQUEST

Held upon the body of James Gorie at Nagambie

John Gordon J.P. Coroner.

A MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY on behalf of our Sovereign Lord the King, taken at Nagambie in the Central Bailiwick of Victoria, this 1st day of August in the year of our Lord 1908 before the undersigned John Gordon Esquire, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said Bailiwick, upon view of the body of James Gorie then and there lying dead.

Having duly inquired when, where, how, and by what means the said James Gorie come by his death, I say that the said James Gorie died at Nagambie in the said Bailiwick on the 31st day of July 1908 from cardiac failure accelerated by lung congestion, in accordance with medical testimony.

As witness my hand this 1st day of August 1908.

John Gordon J.P

Re Magisterial Inquiry on Michael Gorey alias James Gorie:

I have to report I am forwarding depositions taken in the above Inquiry. After the Inquiry was over and papers signed, Edward Gorey, a brother of deceased, came to Nagambie from Whroo. He informed me that deceased's correct name was Michael Gorey, age 68, and that he never was an Imperial Pensioner or Soldier. He took charge of the funeral arrangements.

I did not remove the body from the Wine Shop but the Inquiry was held at Police Station. The only expense incurred was £1.1.0 for Dr Murphy.

I have registered death as Michael Gorey.

H. H. Frankland Const 3488 Victoria Police, Nagambie Station, N Eastern Police District 31st July 1908

Report of Senior Constable Swanwick 3488 Relative to sudden death of James Gorry at Nagambie on 31st July 1908

I have to report that at 6.25pm this afternoon, Beams Wine Shop, High Street Nagambie, informed me that a man named James Gorry had died at his residence, Beams's between 5.30pm and 6.25pm today, He states that deceased came to the Wine Shop at about 5.30pm on the 30th inst from Mitchelstown. Gorry informed that he drove in with Mr Newnham his employer and he said he felt bad and he intended to go into the Mooroopna Hospital the following morning, he went to bed at 10pm. In the morning he said he was not well enough to go, but he made arrangements to go the following morning (Saturday), at 4.30pm this afternoon he told Mrs Beams he did not feel well and asked her to send for Dr Murphy, Mrs Beams went for Dr Murphy but he was not at home, At 5.30pm Jessie Kelly heard him crying and went into his room and enquired if he wanted anything.

He was sitting up in bed and he did not reply. At about 6.30p, Dr Murphy and Mr Beam went into his room and found him lying in bed dead. The body was quite warm. I examined his body, there were no marks of violence and no suspicious circumstances. I saw Mr Newnham and he informed me that Gorry had been working for him on and off for some years. He drove him in from Mitchelstown on the afternoon of the 30th. Deceased informed him that he had been bad for the last month with pains in the chest and that he did not think he would live to reach the hospital, he arranged to go there the following morning. Deceased informed Mr Beam he was 78 and he was an Imperial Pensioner. He had not been attended to by a Doctor.

W.H. Swannel Const. 3488

This Deponent* Ebenezer Newnham on his oath saith, I am a grazier residing at Nagambie:

I know deceased James Gorey, he has been working for me on and off for the last three years, principally wood cutting. He was wood cutting on my property at Mitchellstown near Nagambie for the last six months and camped in a hut there. Three weeks ago I saw him then and he informed me that he got damp cutting some scrub and that his breathing was very tight but he thought he was getting better. I again saw him last Thursday, and found that he was laid up, I got him to get up and I drove him into Nagambie arriving there at 5.30pm he was to go to the Mooroopna Hospital that night but he afterwards arranged to go the following morning. When we started to drive in from Mitchellstown he said "I feel bad I do not think I will reach Nagambie". I said I think you must have congestion of the lungs. I advised him to get a return ticket to Mooroopna. He said don't get me a return, I will never live to get back but afterwards he seemed to get a little better, and spoke of coming back again.

He said I have not been to the rear since Thursday week and I have not been eating anything. He informed me that he had £28 coming to him in January for an Imperial Pension. He said it has never done me any good, I always drink it instead of doing my work. I left him at Beams wine shop at his request. He got out of the cart without any assistance. I did not see him again alive. I know he is a man that drank very heavy, and on the way in from Mitchelldale he said to me, I don't think I will get back from the Hospital.

Taken and Sworn before me the 1st day of August 1908 at Nagambie John Gordon JP, Coroner

This Deponent Evelyn Beames on her oath saith, I am a married woman and residing at Nagambie:

I am the licensee of Wine Shop in High Street and also keep a boarding house. On Thursday 30th July last, the deceased came to my place and engaged a bed. He said I am suffering from a bad cold and I am going to the Mooroopna Hospital in the morning, he also stated that he thought he had congestion of the lungs. He had some tea and a glass of wine and another glass before he went to bed at 10pm. The following morning he did not get out of bed. He had some porridge and said he was not well enough to go to the Hospital that morning but he arranged to go on Saturday morning. I saw him at 4.30pm in his room and he asked me to send for Dr Murphy. My husband went over for the doctor but he was not at home but he came over at 6.25pm. I did not see deceased alive after 4.30pm.

I knew him for some time and he has been a very heavy drinker. On the 30th I noticed he breathed very heavy and he said I don't think I will get back from the Hospital. Deceased informed me that he was 79 years of age.

Evelyn Beames

Taken and Sworn before me the 1st day of August 1908 at Nagambie.

John Gordon J.P. Coroner.

This deponent Jane Kelly on her oath saith, I am a domestic servant residing at Nagambie:

I am employed by Mrs Beam. I saw deceased when he came to the shop at 5.30pm on Thursday last. He went to bed about 10pm that night. I saw him in his bed the following morning Friday and again at dinner time. At 5.15pm I took him in a glass of wine, he was perspiring and I said to him are you too warm? He said in a sort of a way. I again looked in to his room at 5.30pm he was sitting up in bed crying. I said to him do you want anything, he did not reply, I did not see him again alive

Jane Kelly

Taken and Sworn before me the 1st day of August 1908 at Nagambie. John Gordon JP Coroner

This deponent William Patrick Murphy on his oath saith, I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Nagambie:

I was called in to attend deceased James Gorie on July 31st 1908 at Mrs Beams's wine shop at 6.30pm and found him dead in his bed. I have known him for some two years and from my knowledge of him, I believe he died from cardiac failure accelerated by lung congestion. I have heard the evidence of the other witnesses and can corroborate their evidence. I have seen him I believe for attendance some two years before.

August 1st 1908

Taken and Sworn before me the 1st day of August 1908 at Nagambie John Gordon J.P. Coroner