From the Goulburn Herald, Saturday, March 5,1887:

Mr Donald McDonald, a resident from Clifford’s Creek near Laggan, left Goulburn on horseback on Wednesday evening. Sometime afterwards he was found lying on the road near Fenwick’s “Royal Oak” Inn at the Sooley Valley. He was removed to the hotel where he expired yesterday. There is doubt as to whether he was thrown from his horse or fell off in a fit of apoplexy, but probably some light will be thrown on the subject at the inquest to be held today.

CORONER'S INQUEST: On Saturday the coroner (Mr A M Betts) held an inquest at Mr R Fenwick's Royal Oak Inn, Sooley Valley, touching the cause of death of Mr Donald McDonald, farmer and grazier, of Clifford's Creek near Laggan.

John Fardy, innkeeper, residing at Kingsdale, deposed that on Wednesday, the 2nd instant, deceased called at his house on the way from Goulburn to Laggan; he came there between 8 and 9 pm and remained until about 11, when he started for home; he had a glass of whisky and lemonade and afterwards a ginger beer, but no other drink; deceased said he must go home that night, as some of his family were leaving the following day; he was riding a horse which witness knew to be a quiet one; deceased was not drunk, though he wore the appearance of having had a glass or two; as a rule he was of temperate habits; was about 68 years of age and left a family of grown-up children.

Michael Ryan deposed that he was driving the mail coach from Goulburn to Crookwell; just before five o'clock on the following morning of Thursday, the 3rd instant, at a place about two miles on the Crookwell side of Mr Fenwick's, he saw a man lying on the road, and pulled the horses round a bit so that the coach should not pass over him; he believed the man was one Cushion, whom witness had left at Gategood's the previous night on his way to Goulburn because he was drunk; the place where the man was lying was on an incline, and witness could not see whether he was dead or alive; he would have pulled up but he thought the man was Cushion, and that he was still drunk; witness was nearly sure that he was driving, and not a man named Cramp, who was seated on the box.

John Rodgers deposed that he was a horse-dealer and lived at Cotta Walla; on the 3rd instant he was on his way to Goulburn when he saw a man lying on the road.