DEATH AT THE GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 230, 26 September 1903, Page 3

DEATH AT THE GAOL.

A SORDID END.

INQUEST CONTINUED.

The inquest touching the death of Arthur Treneiy, aged 27, who died at the Mount Eden gaol on Sept. 11th, was continued at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel yesterday afternoon by Mr Gresham, coroner. Mr J. C. Martin appeared to watch the case on behalf of Mr Moriarty, of the Central Hotel, Dargavilie, and Mr W. J. Napier on behalf of friends of deceased. Constant Dart represented the police. It will be remembered that deceased was arrested on a charge of drunkenneu at Dargavilie on Monday, 7th September, was remanded to Auckland for ntedical treatment, and died at the gaol on Friday, .the lithe Tiie post-mortem examination revealed an embolic in the heart and pneumonia.. Constable Thompson, of Dargavilie, continuing Ida evidence, deposed that he carried out Dr. Purchas' instruction as to giving deceased beef, tea and stimulants and kept a man employed to attend to deceased, besides visiting him himself. On the Bth he was brought to the Court, and walked there with assistance. He -"/as charged with drunkenness, and witness suggested to the magistrate that he should be remanded for medical treatment. So far as witness could judge deceased was suffering from alcoholism, and he had no money and no friends. If he had been convicted and discharged and turned out on the streets he would most likely have died. There was no institution at Dargavilie in which deceased could be placed. Witness considered that deceased was hardly sane at the time. The Coroner said the doctor was the proper person to express an opinion as to the man's s&nity. Witness said that he was in a better position to do so than the doctor, having been constantly with deceased. The Coroner: Of course, I know the police are omnipotent. Witness, continuing, said he did not consider deceased was in a position to understand the meaning of the plea guilty or not guilty. On witness' suggestion deceased was remanded to apat Auckland. Deceased was brought down to Auckland by witness on the 10th. The left Dargavilie by boat at five o'clock in the morning id Helencville. Deceased was placed in a cabin and was covered with blankets. Deceased arrived at the Auckland gaol about six the same evening. During the journey tue doctor's directions were carried out. The day was a very fine one and mild. Deceased made no complaints on the journey, and said several timee tli.ii he thought he felt better. Witness had no authority to incur the expenditure of taking a remanded prisoner to a private hospital. There was no gaol at Dargavilie, but only police cells. Witness had been in charge of the Auckland watch-house for twelve months, and he had never known a prisoner charged with drunkenness to be remanded to any place other than a gaol for medical treatment. If sijch a case were sent to an hospital the authorities there would demand the attendance of three constables every 24 hours to looV- after the patient. To Mr. Martin: Deceased took food three times on the Tuesday, and four times on the Wednesday. Prior to the 7th there had been a good deal of wet, cold weather at Helensville. A medical man who saw deceased expressed the opinion that 'deceased would get all right, and that witness need not be afraid. This doctor, whose name witness forget, simply looked at the man. Witness was informed that deceased was a man of drunken and degraded habits. The licensee of the Central Hotel informed witness that he had sent for witness because of these habits.

Edwin Wilson, fanner, of Dargaville. who saw deceased at tbe Central Hotel prior to his arrest, also gave evidence. William Maxwell, a fireman on the s.s. Muritai, said he had on several occasions seen deceased under the influence of liquor at Dargaville. On one occasion at Moriarty's Hotel deceased played the piano, and" the company provided him with ten long beers. Deceased played the piano constantly for drinks. Dr. F. M. Purchas, practising at Dargaville, deposed to being called in to see deceased at the police station on September 7th. Deceased was apparently suffering from physical and nervous exhaustion, and was qμitF conscious. Deceased had some of the symptoms of delirium tremens. Witness diagnosed deceased as suffering from alcoholic poisoning and masturbation. Witness did not test the man's lungs. It was not the usual course to test in such cases unless there was indication of lung trouble. _ In this case there were none of the signs of lung trouble. Witness considered that at the°time he saw deceased he was in a fit state to uiake the journey to Auckland.

To Mr. Martin: All the symptoms he observed were equally consistent with a case of chronic masturbation, as with acute alcoholic poisoning. The. way the man ate was not consistent with the then- existence of delirium tremens.

To the police: He did not think deceased was fit to plead in Court. The inquest was then adjourned until this day week.