CORONER'S INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 197, 18 August 1908, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

The adjourned inquest, touching the death of Francis Geraty, miner, of Thames, whose body was found at the Albert Hotel, Queen-street, on Tuesday last, was continued before the City Coroner (Mr. T. Uresham) this morning. The previous evidence had been to the effect that deceased had been discovered by an employee at the hotel, lying at the foot of "the stairs leading to the kitchen. Dr. de Clive Lowe had beeu unable to certify to the cause of death, and after a post mortem, had deposed that death was due to senility in conjunction with heart complaint. It was also proved that there had been not the slightest sign of alcohol on the deceased. A witness, the Rev. James Wilson, a son-in-law of deceased, had applied for an adjournment, stating that the deceased ■was, on the morning of his death, in possession of a considerable sum of money, whereas but 10/- was found on his body by the police. The adjournment was granted. When the proceedings opened to-day, Mr. Wilson stated that one of the children had seen her grandfather (the deceased) with a purse containing some sovereigns on the mornmg of his death, whereas the police had only found 10/-. He did not know whether it was worth .while pursuing this matter, as they had not the' slightest idea where or when during the day the money went. The Coroner: No, j-oa haven't anything to go on. He easily have spent it in twelve hours. The witness expressed hi 3 opinion that deceased had had no calls to pay, Sergeant Hanson replying that he had interviewed tho secretaries of several of the goldmining companies which had been rei ferred to as those in which deceased i had shares, and on which shares calls I wore said to be owiug by deceased. As la result he had found that a call of 125/- in the Scandinavian Company was ! owing 03' deceased, who had called a,t I the ofiice on the morning of his deatn, ! saving that he would forward the amount I due when he returned home.

The jury deemed it unnecessary to hear the children's evidence, and returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, adding a rider to the effect that in their opinion the licensee should at once render the locality where the deceased was found less dangerous to the public.