30 December 1854 Inquest held at Dowling Forest on the body of
CALEB CROMPTON
DJ Williams Coroner
Accidental death by a fall from a horse - deceased being at the time intoxicated

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE CORONER
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INQUISITION

Colony of Victoria, Ballarat
TO WIT
An Inquisition for our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, taken at Dowling Forest in the District of Ballarat aforesaid,
the Thirtieth day of December A.D.1854, in the Eightieth year of the Reign of our said Lady the Queen
before me David John Williams, Gentleman, a Coroner of our Lady the Queen for the District of Ballarat aforesaid,
upon the view of the body of Caleb Crompton then and there lying dead upon the oaths of

good and lawful men of Dowling Forest in the said District who being duly sworn and charged to enquire, upon the part of our Lady the Queen, when, where, how, and by what means the said Caleb Crompton came by his death, do say upon their oath that the death of the deceased was accidental

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE CORONER
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INQUISITION

Colony of Victoria, Ballarat
TO WIT
THE Examination of Charles Paine of Dowling Forest taken upon oath this Thirtieth day of December A.D.1854, at Dowling Forest before the undersigned Coroner in the said District
This Deposant Charles Paine on his oath said as follows:-

I am at work at this house I and another left the house at about nine this morning in the direction of the race course, and shortly before getting there we saw deceased lying on the ground on his right side with his head twisted on his shoulder I thought at first he was asleep but on examination found he was dead I went to the race course and gave information and enquired for a medical man I then returned and assisted in removing the body home
      I found the hat flattened in at the crown about a yard from the body

Inquest on Caleb Crompton, sheet 2

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE CORONER
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INQUISITION

Colony of Victoria, Ballarat
TO WIT
THE Examination of Alexander Sangster of Dowling Forest taken upon oath this Thirtieth day of December A.D.1854, at Dowling Forest before the undersigned Coroner in the said District
This Deposant Alexander Sangster on his oath said as follows:-
I am deceased partner He left home yesterday about twelve oclock for the purpose of proceeding to the races I saw no more of him until after he was found dead in the bush, he intended to return in the evening
    Deceased horse was caught in the bush and brought home about nine this morning Shortly afterwards I received information that deceased had been found dead in the bush I at once went there and found the deceased lying on his back I was told the body had been turned over in order to search the pockets I saw two pounds and some papers that had been taken out of his pocket. The police arrived shortly after me the body was conveyed here in a cart "By a ferryman" Deceased was rather given to drinking. By the Coroner(?)
    Deceased could not have had much money as I lent him some before he started I was not concerned at the deceased not returning  I thought he might have gone to the race dinner at Ballarat

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE CORONER
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INQUISITION

Colony of Victoria, Ballarat
TO WIT
THE Examination of Thomas Fletcher of Dowling Forest taken upon oath this Thirtieth day of December A.D.1854, at Dowling Forest before the undersigned Coroner in the said District
This Deposant Thomas Fletcher on his oath said as follows:-
I am a store keeper I have seen deceased (sic) once or twice he left my store on the race course about half past seven last night he was on horse back and leading another horse belonging to me, he set off in the direction for home, he appeared a little elevated [Victorian word for slightly intoxicated] but not drunk I heard nothing more of him until this morning when I heard of his death
    Deceased was alone when he left my tent

TAKEN and Sworn before me the 30thday of December A.D.1854 at Dowling Forest			Source: Victoria State inquest on Caleb Crompton VPRS 24/P-23-1854/736

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass				Version B5 Updated 11 June 2023

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