A SEA CAPTAIN'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 258, 29 October 1907, Page 4

A SEA CAPTAIN'S DEATH.

RESTJLT OF AN ACCIDENT.

The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Captain William Spargo, was continued before the Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham) this morning. Mr. Sharpies appeared for the relatives of the deceased, and Sergeant Hendry represented the police. Captain Spargo was admitted to the hospital on May 25th, suffering from injuries sustained in falling down the hold of the s.s. Energy. He was afterwards removed to the asylum, where he died on the Bth October. An inquest was opened at Avondale, and, after an adjournment to Tuesday last, was concluded this morning. The post-mortem revealed fractures to the collar : bone and to the skull, with softening of the brain. Dr. Tracy R. Inglis deposed to having examined deceased on his admission to the hospital on 25th May. He was then unconscious, and was suffering from a fracture of the left collar-bone. There were no external signs of a fracture to the skull. Deceased was not properly conscious for several days afterwards. During June his mental condition had improved, but when witness visited him in July he was more melancholy and was suffering from sleeplessness. His mental condition became more impaired, and in August he was removed to the asylum. Witness considered that the cause of death was softening of the brain, due to an accident. The jury's verdict was to the effoct that death was due to softening of the brain, the result of injuries sustained on 25th May on the s.s. Energy, and that the deceased came to his death accidentally.