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THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE
GRAND HOTEL.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
At the Coroner's Court yesterday, the
inquiry into the cause of the death of
Laurence Bowes, who was found in an un-
conscious condition, at the back of the
GrandHotfll, on the 19th nit., and who died
at the hospital two days later, was resumed
before the Coroner (Dr. Lovegrove) and
the jury previously empannelled. Sergt.
Sellenger appeared on behalf of the police.
Edward J. otorey said that he was in
deceased's cottpany for about half an hour
before 11.30 j.tn. Each had tour or five
drinks, deceased taking small shandies.
Howes went up with Mr. E:clcs to bed,
witness accompanying them at the request
of deceased. Witnesb sxw Eccles close the
?window and lock it. Doceased locked his
door and witness then went away. Wit-
ness thought sufficient clio was taken by
the liceneoe. Had witness had to sleep in
the room ho would have opened the win-
dow. Witness did not consider that
deceased was drunk when he went up-
stairs.
Alfred Eccle3 said hp was the landlord
of ttíe Grand Hotel Deceased came to the
hotel quite sober between 4 and 4 30 on the
18th ult. Witness game him the key of
the room he had engaged and did not seo
him again lill 9.30 at Cremorne. Witness
next saw deceased about n 30 p.m. Wit-
ness went with Bowes to his room. Witness
shut and fastened the window. Deceased
told Storey to call for him the neit day at
IO a.in. Witness heard deceased
lock "his door, and he then went
away. Witnesa knew that a [ter ho loft
Howes came out of his room and went into
j other rooms, saying he was looking for the
* bar. Witness saw deceased lying on a
?" sofa, with one boot on and his hat and coat
off. Witness told two of his employees to
put deceased back in his room, but gave
them no instructions to lock him in. Wit-
ness did not think he should have been
locked in, as thore waa no exit in case of
fire. By tho jury : Witness saw deceased
to bed, because he was with people witness
did not like. Deceased was inclined to
fight
Matthew Hagan, barman at the Grand
Hotel, gave similar evidence. He said he
took the key out of the bedroom door when
they saw deceased to his room, and gave it
to'AVatson, who locked the door. They did
this because deceased said he did not want
to go to bpd. The only way deceased
conld get out was through the window.
Had he wished to have got out in case of
fire he could not hsve done so. It was not
by Eccles' instructions that the door was
locked. Deceased wanted to go on to the
balcony, but instructions were to lock all
doors thereto at midnight.
Henry Watson, bookkeeper at the Grand
Hotel, gave corroborative evidence. Had
deceased wished to get out, and had
knocked fairly liará, witness would pro-
bably have hoard him.
Dr. Spencer said he recognised deceased
as one who had been in the hospital suffer-
ing from delirium,í Jemens. When brought
to the hospital on the 18fch he was uncon-
scious, and smelt strongly of alcohol, and
had a large contusion over the right temple.
Witness made a post-mortem examination
and found the brain in a state of extreme
congestion. The cause of death was con-
gestion 'of the brain, partly the result of
excessive indulgence in alcohol and partly
the result of fracture of the base of the
skull. Witness considered the fracture
was caused by a fall. Ho might have re-
covered had his brain not been so congested
by the use of alcohol.
(Constable Crick deposed to the discovery
by bim of the deceased while unconscious
and to taking him to the hospital.
The Coroner having summed np, the
jury returned a verdict to the effect that
deceased came by his death from the
effects of a fall from a, window at the
Grand Hotel on Sunday, the 19fch February,
while Under the influence of drink, and
they were of opinion that the licensee of
the hotel was guilty of gross negligence,
considering the state of the deceased.
They severely censured the witnesses Wat
^4 son and Hagan for having locked deceased
r in his room. A rider was added suggest
- ing that windows in hotels should be
properly protected.
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