DEATH OF ARMIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 278, 23 November 1899, Page 7

DEATH OF ARMIT.

THE INQUEST.

DUNEDIN, November 13

The inquest touching the death of Alex. McNaughton Armit, who. met with injuries in the Taranaki-Otago football Hinatjdi on August 26, was held to-day, before Mr C. Graham, actino- coroner. The evidence ot .1. Duncan, captain of the Otago team W II Haydon, touch line judge, and Sergeant Higgins, went to show that the occurrence was an accident, that Armit made a jump, and that All Bailey thus caught him lower than he intended. Duncan said the game might seem rough, because iaranaki was playing a forward game and the Otago a back game, but it was not rough, compared with the play in the North. Dr. Robert Burns, who was a spectator, volunteered evidence. His statement was to the effect that Armit was flung or thrust by Bayly. In reply to a question by the uncle of Armit, Dr. Burns said the injuries received byArmit could only have been caused by a force, such as a man diving into shallow water, or a waggoner going under an arch. Dr. Brownhouse, surgeon at the hospital, said if the man fell heavily oh the back of his neck, and made no attempt to save himself with his hands, he was liable to sustain severe injuries, and in reply to a question of Armit's uncle, he instanced the case of a man receiving a similar injury by simply slipping over something on a floor. Some of Armit's relatives desired to have the other medical men who attended and performed the operation called, but after'consultation the Jury said they were quite satisfied to express their verdict on trie evidence. The verdict was that deceased died from injuries! received, in a football match,..that the occurrence was purely accidental, and that no blame was attached- to anyone.