FOUND DEAD IN BED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 155, 12 April 1930, Page 8

FOUND DEAD IN BED

GREENSTREET PLOUGHMAN MAN AGED SEVENTY YEARS. DUE TO HEART FAILURE. Mr John Cairns, aged 70, a farm hand, was found dead in bed in his whare on the property of Miss Kennedy, Greenstreet, this morning. An inquest was held before the District Coroner (Mr R. Clark) in the Ashburton Courthouse this aftei noon. Joseph Cairns, brother of deceased, gave evidence of identification. \\ itness last saw his brother alive at 6 p.m. yesterday, when lie was m good health. Dr. G. I. Miller said he performed a post-mortem examination on the body, and his opinion was that death was due to heart failure, following the diseased condition of the valves of the heart, and atheroma of the vessels. Death bad probably taken place early tins morning. . . Alfred Lees said he last saw deceased at 10.30 pan. last night at the Working Men’s Club. Deceased was then apparently in his normal health, and had never complained. He cycled three miles to his home, . Annie Kennedy, of Greenstreet, said she had known deceased about five years, and had been in her employ as ploughman. She drove him to Ashburton about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Ho was in his usual state of health then. He did not appear for breakfast this morning, and when she found that the horses had not been brought in she went to his whare and found him dead in his bed. He had never complained of his health. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to heart failure following the diseased state of the valves.