Transcription
CORONER’S INQUEST.—Yesterday an Inquest was held at the Crown, Westminster-bridge, on the body of John Stevenson, late a saddler I Westminster-road, who was killed on Tuesday, by Zephyr, the stag, at Astley’s Theatre.
Mr. Parker, one of the Proprietors of Astley’s Amphitheatre, stated, that he had the care of the stag, which belongs to a foreigner named Garnier, now in France. Mr. Garnier had been applied to several times to take the animal away, but had neglected to do so; it was kept in a stall near the stables. On Tuesday last witness was preparing to feed it with turnips, when he saw the deceased, who had been employed last summer to make a collar or halter for the deer. Finding it was tight, the animal having grown fat, he called Stevenson, and asked if it could not be altered? The deceased said it could. After a few minute conversation they went towards the stall, and on the approach of Mr. Stevenson, the stag made a dart at him, fixed him with its horn against the wall, and gored him; the witness having a stick beat the stag, and forced it to quit the deceased; Stevenson then appeared with his body bent towards the ground; a profusion of blood issued from the wound, and in a short time after the accident the deceased expired. The witness had, previously to the accident, told him the animal was dangerous.
Mr. Cook, surgeon, Westminster-road, deposed, that he was required, by a messenger, about one o’clock on Tuesday, to go to Astley’s Theatre, a serious accident having taken place: he accordingly proceeded to Astley’s, and on his arrival found Mr. Stevenson lying on a shutter. On examination he found the deceased had received a wound on the superior and interior part of his thigh, in the direction of the femoral artery, about two inches below the poupart ligament. He found the wound two inches and a half in depth, and he had no doubt there was a division of the femoral artery and femoral vein. Arterial action had ceased, and from the nature of the injury done, the witness entertained no hope of recovery; he considered the wound mortal. The deceased was placed in a warm bath, but not by the direction of Mr. Cook.
The Jury, under the direction of the Coroner, found their verdict—Accidental Death. The stag is forfeited to the Archbishop of Canterbury, as a deodand—ten pounds are to be given as an equivalent.
