THE CHAPEL-STREET MYSTERY

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 254, 24 October 1905, Page 5

THE CHAPEL-STREET MYSTERY

1■ m . CORONER'Si INQtJEST CONCLUDED.

MEDICAL EVIDENCE-

The District Coroner (Mr T. Gresham) resumed the inquest this morning at.the Auckland Hospital concerning the;death of Alexander Murrison, who was found a fortnight ago in a dying state in the passage of a house in Chapel-street, and expired the following day at the Auckland Hospital. Chief-Detective Marsack conducted for the police. ;:

- Dr. Moir said he found the deceased lying on a bed in a Chapel-street boardinghouse in a serious condition on the morning of the 10th inst. He ordered his immediate removal 'to the Hospital. As the result of a post nortem examination, the head -was discovered to be in an ' abrased state. Dr. Moir.' described the condition of the head; and said^that on a section of the brain there was considerable effusion of blood. In his opinion it was the result of a severe concussion

In answer to the Coroner'the witness said the fall, if it was caused by a fall, must have been a heavy one, in view of the amount of contusion. The lungs were normal, with 'the' exception of slight 'adhesion and hypostatic conges-; tion. The heart was flabby and the kidneys were a mass of small cysts, the weight of both kidneys being abnormally great.; In witness' opinion the cause, of death was cerebral hemorrhage. The violence that the man met with-would have been quite sufficient to cause-this hemorrhage.

In answer to Chief-Detective Marsack the witness said that one fait might have accounted for all-the marks-on the' body. The same fall might also have occasioned the effusion of blood in the brain. The condition of tbe kidneys might have led to such dizziness as may have-occasioned the fall, and, in fact, this condition would have induced a'general tendency to fall. V Dr. Aickin, house physician at the Auckland Hospital, gave'evidence as to the admission of deceased to the Hospital. The symptoms attending the man's condition pointed to effusion, of blood to the brain. There were also evidences of severe derangement of the nervous system. In- the evening an operation for the relief of the blood on the brain was performed by Dr. "Craig. This caused temporary relief, but Murrison did not recover consciousness,- atad sank gradually, dying at-10.30 p.m.- on the llth. Witness was "- present at a part of the post mortem examination, and agreed with the statements of Dr. Moir concerning the man's condition. He was further of opinion, however, that the diseased state of the kidneys might have predisposed hemorrhage on the brain, which in turn may have caused the dizziness and subsequent fall.

In reply to Chief-Detective Marsaek the witness said there was no indication of alcohol about the man at the time of admission to .the Hospital. 1,/ At this stage an adjournment-was made to the Criterion Hotel. %,.

the eotoner and jury, after inspecting the passage in which Murfison was found, next visited the room occupied' by Thomas Hamilton, for the purpose of hearing his evidence. This was necessary as Hamilton, who is an Imperial pensioner, having served in His Majesty's 14th and 38th Regiments, is in a feeble state of health, and • unable to leave his bed. This witness said that on the evening of the 9th Murrison visited hun and had a chat for about half 'an hour. Deceased was perfectly sober at the time. About eight o'clockhe left, saying he was going to bed. He heard nothing more until about eleven

or half-past, when he heard a heavy fall in the passage, and someone groan-, ing. Witness did not take very much notice of it at the time, as deceased was subject to and it was not unusual to bear him fall at such times. After this he went to sleep, and heard nothing more until the morning. He had known Murrison about seven years. Samyel Joseph Locke said he occupied the room opposite deceased's. He was down the street during the evening,: and. saw Murrison near the Waitemata Hotel. This was about eight o'clock. Witness had taken five or six drinks during the day, but was not intoxicated. He returned home shortly after seeing Murrison, i£>;_d let himself in by the front door; He went "straight; to his room" and turned in. This would be about half-past nine. He was aroused some hours" after going to slerp by hearing Murrison calling out ■•Sam." The voice came from the passage. Witness said "What's the matter?'' arid deceased replied that he'had pains in his legs again. Witness went out, and, found him in a crouched position on the floor.

Witness here explained that deceased was often attacked with cramp and pains in the legs.

Continuing-his evidence, he said that deceased appeared as though he had been drinking somewhat. Witness lifted him up and carried him' to. his bed and laid him upon it, and then returned to his own room. He was aroused twice during the night after this by deceased calling to him. Witness got up a second time and found him lying prone on the floor of the passage. Deceased again complained of his legs. A third time deceased called him, but witness did not go to him, as he thought he was drunk. About half-past six witness got up and found deceased lying in the passage. Deceased was in a filthy condition, and witness walked past him and went down to his mother and complained about the drunken and fifthy state that Murrison was in. He did not speak., to him or touch him, nor did he send anyone to his assistance. .... '•■-'■y In; reply to Chief-Detective Mar sack, witness said that deceased and. h'mself bad always been the best of friends. He did not assist him upon getting'up in the morning or send anyone to".him, because he was disgusted with what he considered the drunken state Murrison was in. \

Continued on p age two.