HIS LAST HOURS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 6

HIS LAST HOURS.

WARNING BY A DOCTOR,

AGAINST CONTESTING ELECTION.

WELLINGTON, October 3. The last man to speak to Mr J. Connolly was a Christchurch Parliamentary representative. In the Prime Minister’s room" at 5.30 o’clock—less than an hour before -his death—Mr Connolly discussed his intentions for the coming election. In a serious state of health then, he was then waiting for a last interview with his chief.

To the reporter, Mr Connolly said he had been warned, that afternoon by his doctor not to stand again, but he wished to see Mr Forbes first. His party had expressed a wish that he should again contest the Mid-Canter-bury seat. It was his intention to discuss matters with Mr Forbes ana then to make a statement for publication. All through this conversation Mr Connolly appeared to be ill, and was worried about the result of a consultation which he had had with his doctor earlier in the afternoon. Threequarters of an hour later he was dead. While being driven in a taxi from Parliament Buildings to the Midland Hotel he was seized by a heart attack, dying before he could be brought to medical aid.

Mr Connolly had been suffering from heart trouble for sonxe time, and yesterday morning complained of feeling unwell. He rested in a room in the Law Draughting Department, and in the afternoon Miss Foully, a depaitmerital clerk, become concerned and telephoned Dr. Roclie-Kelly, whom Mr Connolly consulted about 3.-30 o’clock. Dr. Roclie-Kelly warned Mr Connolly that his heart was in a serious state and could not stand the strain of an election campaign. Mr Connolly returned to the House and .listened to the debate on the Estimates until the adjournment. He .sent a message that lie -wished to see the Prime Minister, but, unfortunately, the message was misunderstood, ana Mr Connolly waited in the Prime Minister’s room until 6 o’clock without seeing Mr Forbes. He was then feeling very ill, and Miss Foully ord red a taxi for him to go to his hotel. While on the way from Parliament Buildings, accompanied by Miss Foully, Mr Connolly had a seizure and died in the taxicab.

Miss Foully ordered the taxi to he driven to Dr. Robertson, in Willis Street, hut Dr. Robertson was at Dr. Clay’s, a few doors away. When the taxi reached there Mr Connolly was dead, and Dr. Robertson informed Miss Fouhy that Dr. Clay himself had just died suddenly. After the interview with Dr. RoclieKelly in the afternoon; Mr Connolly was very greatly upset, and was also worried because his youngest boy was in hospital with appendicitis.

The auction sale at Mr Reg. Stephenson’s rooms was stopped this afternoon, when Mr Stephenson referred to the death of Mr Connolly. _ A motion of sympathy with the relatives was carried in silence.