Saturday 29 Jun 1844 (p. 3, col. 5) INQUESTS. ----- (Before Mr. CARRICK, Coroner.) At Aspatria, on Monday last, an inquest was held on the body of Thomas FORSTER, a guager, upon the Maryport and Carlisle Railway, who died from a gunshot wound, received under the following circumstances. On the previous Saturday evening, the deceased was prevailed upon by another railway labourer, named Joseph HODGSON, and one Joseph FEARON, a shopkeeper in the village, to accompany them into some neighbouring fields for the purpose of shooting lapwings. HODGSON and FEARON each had a gun. The party returned between ten and eleven at night, and sat down by the side of the railway, at the end of the village, where they drank half a gallon of ale, for which the deceased was sent by FEARON. A short time afterwards they withdrew to the stack yard of Mr. BROUGH, where they drank another gallon of ale. They had drawn from a straw stack several bundles, and piled them in front, for the purpose of sheltering themselves from the wind. FEARON laid his gun upon the top of this straw pile, and deceased placed HODGSON's gun inside of this straw heap. About two o'clock in the morning they rose to return home. HODGSON and deceased had walked two or three paces in the direction of the gate, when FEARON said, "I will take the guns," and was in the act of drawing out HODGSON's when it exploded. Deceased immediately called out "I am shot," fell sideways against the stack, and laid his hands upon his belly, a deadly paleness came over his face, and a stream of blood flowed from his body, his clothes were loosed by his companions when they discovered a large wound a little to the left of his navel, from which his bowels were protruding. HODGSON ran to the village, while FEARON remained with the unfortunate man. Mr. ELLIOT, surgeon, was in attendance in a few minutes, and had him removed to his dwelling, where he lingered until six o'clock in the morning, when he expired. Mr. ELLIOT interrogated deceased several times with a view to ascertain whether the wound was the result of accident or otherwise, the statements of the deceased were contradictory, and not to be relied on, partly owing to his state of intoxication and partly to exhaustion. He at first stated that FEARON did it on purpose, but immediately added "that answer would not do, it was accidental." The conduct of HODGSON and FEARON, as well in connection with the distressing circumstances, as in their statements in Court, called forth the censure of the Jury. It appeared that when Mr. ELLIOT was questioning the deceased, HODGSON interrupted him, and evinced great anxiety to prevent the deceased making any statements. The Jury after an investigation of several hours returned a verdict of "Accidental death," with a deodand of 10s. upon the gun. The Coroner afterwards, at the request of the Jury, sent for FEARON and HODGSON, and gave them a severe reprimand. A post mortem examination was made by Mr. ELLIOT, from which it appeared that part of the bowels were entirely divided, and in the back in a line with the external wound, the bulk of the shot and wadding, and one of the buttons of his trowsers which had been carried in by the force of the shot. (Before Mr. W. BRAGG.) BODY FOUND.-An inquest was held a few days ago in Eskdale, on view of the body of Robert WILKINSON, who on the day preceding was found dead in the vale. Verdict-"Died by the visitation of God."-The unfortunate object had from his boyhood been an inmate of the Whitehaven workhouse, and was known to every inhabitant of the town-children especially, by the appellation of "Silly Bob." The poor weak-minded creature, as had not unfrequently been his wont, rambled away from the workhouse, and having made his way to the mountains was unable to retrace his steps, and thus perished, it is supposed, from cold and want. (Before Mr. G. THOMPSON.) At Heasley, in the parish of Morland, Westmoreland, on Saturday the 22nd inst., on view of the body of John COOK of that place, aged 54. Deceased on the Thursday previous to the inquest, had gone to bed in his usual good health with his son, a boy about 13 years of age, who slept with him, and not getting up at his accustomed time next morning, his daughter went into his bed room and found him dead. His son at the time was asleep.-Verdict "Died by the visitation of God."-On Wednesday last, at the Hill, in Ravenstonedale, on the body of William PAGE, aged 38 years. Deceased who was a carpenter, was employed the previous Monday in taking the timber from the top of a barn, and was standing on the tie-beam for that purpose when it suddenly broke, and he fell to the ground with much violence. The noise of the falling timber and his cries brought assistance, and medical aid was called in, but deceased died the following day. Several of his ribs were broken, and his death was attributed to internal injuries which he had sustained in the fall. The jury returned a verdict to that effect accordingly.