DEATH OF JAMES POULTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 206, 29 August 1905, Page 3

DEATH OF JAMES POULTON.

DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES. The inquest touching the death of the old man James Poulton was concluded at the Criterion Hotel yesterday afternoon by Mr T. Gresham (City Coroner). William Posschvaite, continuing his evidence, stated that when one of the men was pushed he said, "It's all right, Billy." Witness could not account for the man knowing his name, for they were unknown so far as he was concerned. Afterwards he retired to his room, but heard no scuffle of any kind. Alfred Matthew Moore, a driver, said he had known the man Alfred Watts for some time. On the evening of the 18th they weTe together, and visited Portico Villa shortly after ten p.m. At midnight they both we' at home in Vincent-street, having stayed about five minutes at Portico Villa. They did not go inside the house, and paid no more visits there that evening. With the exception of Mrs McPike lie knew none of the inmates of the house. There were two other young men outside the house when they arrived. Both he aud Watts were considerably the worse for liquor. Alfred Watts gave similar evidence. Mrs McPike (re-called) said she had known Watts for years, but did not know Moore. They were on the verandah at half-past ten. About twelve o'clock she saw two men going out, but was unable to see their faces. The voice ] she heard say, "1 think we have done for the old " was very like Moore's, j though she did not, see the man's face. : In summing up the Coroner said that the medical evidence was to the effect i that, from the condition of the deceased man's heart, it was possible for death to have ensued from shock, a fail, or a slight struggle. The jury returned the verdict that the deceased's death was due to a diseased and fatty heart, and that he came by his death in a natural way.