The Tumut and Adelong Times 29 Jun 1926
The Late Mr Robt T. Cupitt An inquest into the death of Mr. Robert Thomas Cupitt was conducted at the Courthouse, Adelong, on Friday last, by Coroner W. W. Burkinshaw, when the following evidence was ad duced :— Sergt. John Ballantyne, Sergeant of Police stationed at Adelong, deposed : On the evening of 22nd June, from a telephone message received, proceeded, in company with Dr. Gallagher and Coroner to Mr Robert Cupitt's house at Rika. In a waggon outside, covered over, I saw the body of Robert Tho mas Cupitt and, in the company of the doctor, examined the body, but found no marks of any kind thereon. Deceased had, apparently been dead only a few hours. After the examin ation by Dr. Gallagher, the Govern- ment Medical Officer at Adelong, the Coroner issued an order for burial. Deceased's body was then taken charge of by his family, and I feel quite sure there are no suspicious cir cumstances surrounding the case. Robert Edward Cupitt deposed: I am a woodcutter, residing at Tumut road, Adelong. On the morning of 22nd June, my father (deceased) and I took two loads of wood to the gold dredges, each driving a separate team, After delivering the wood, I left for home. My father had not quite un loaded, but he said "You go ahead and I will catch you up." I looked back on several occasions and saw my father and his team coming along. Some three miles from home, I came over a hill and could not then see back along the road. After unyok ing my bullocks, I began to feel anxi ous about his non-arrival, and I rode my horse back to see what was the matter. I found him lying dead, just on the off-side of his horse team, and his three dogs were lying down and the horses standing. I saw George Ford going across the paddock, and I sang out to him. He came over and saw my father, and, as it was raining heavily, we lifted his body on to the waggon and I drove his waggon home, and left the body on the wag gon till the Coroner and doctor and police arrived. My father used to take giddy turns and nearly fell off his horse at times. He was a man who had no enemies. Think that he must have felt a bad turn coming on and stopped the team just before he died. Am deceased's only son, and always worked with him and we have been on the best of terms. Mary Teresa Cupitt deposed : Am wife of deceased, Robert Thomas Cup itt. On the morning of 22nd June he left home for work, and appeared to be in his usual state of health. He had been taking bad turns at times, but not lately. He used to complain about pains in the heart and short ness of breath, but had not seen a doc tor about it. I last saw him alive on the morning of 22nd June. His life was insured for £300 in the Australian Provincial Assurance Association, an accident and sickness policy. He was a man well liked and did not drink, and had no enemies. I can only think it was heart trouble that caused his death. He was 57 years of age at the time of his death. We always lived together quite happily. George Stephen Ford deposed : Am a laborer aud reside at Grahamstown. Remember 22nd June last. Was out at Califat, working there. Was com ing home, between 4 and 5 o'clock in the evening. Heard some one singing out. Pulled up my horse and looked round, and heard some one say, "Come on, quick !" Looked round and saw a horse team standing on a bush road. Galloped across to the waggon. Asked Mr. Bob Cupitt jr. what was wrong, and then saw the body of his father, Robert Thomas Cupitt, lying on the road. Said, "What is the matter with him," and he said "He's dead." Jum- ped off my horse, tied it up, and lifted the man's head with my hand, and I could see that he was quite dead. The body was not quite cold. It was rain ing at the time, and there were twenty or thirty head of cattle round about, and we did not know what to do ; so I assisted the son to lift his fa ther's body on to the waggon. Told Robert Cupitt jr. to drive off home, and I would get assistance to go out to them. Cantered across to Mr. Smith's place, about a mile further along, and asked a man there to go over to Cupitt's whilst I went and rang the police and doctor up. Came to Mr. Hassett's place, where there is a 'phone, and Mr. Hassett rang up at once. Have known deceased for over fifty years. He was a strictly sober man, and I can only think it must have been heart failure that caused his death. To the best of my know ledge the family always lived most happily together. Dr. William Patrick Gallagher, Government Medical Officer residing at Adelong, deposed : On the evening of 22nd June last saw the body of Robert Thomas Cupitt at his resi dence, Rika. There were no marks on the body. His lips were cyanosed. From his past history of breathless ness on exertion and praecordial pain, I am of the opinion that he was a sufferer from angina. Am of the opin ion that the cause of death was heart failure. Am satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances connected with the death. The Coroner found that the said Robert Thomas Cupitt was found dead at Califat, without any marks of vio lence appearing on his body; and he further found that he died from natu ral causes, to wit, heart failure. |