THE MILFORO FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 102, 29 April 1912, Page 5

THE MILFORO FATALITY.

THEORY OF POISONING DISPROVED. DEATH DUE TO >'ATGRAL CAUSES. The cause of death, in the case of ihe late Mrs. Mary Anne Xicolson, the who of Mr. Angus Xicolson, which oeeurri-u suddenly at Milford Beach on Friday under circumstances which suggested tiie possibility of accidental poisoning, ha?. .proved to be cerebral hemorrhage, Further, it is understood that Mrs. (.'. Jjittle, a sister of the late Mrs. Xicolson. who was taken suddenly ill at the same time, is also suffering from cerebral hemorrhage. At the inquest concerning the death of the late Mrs. Xicolson, which inquiry was concluded before the City Coroner (Mr. T. Greshaml, Dr. W. A. i'airclough deposed that in view of the symptoms he made a post-mortem examination of the head. He discovered a mass of blood on either side, ■beneath the membraneous lining of the cavity of tb« skull. The cause of this was a ruptured middle cerebral artery. There were indication"! of a. definite heart history that must have existed for many years. Under the condition.'. death " might have occurred at any time and with suddenness. Witness did not think that the taking of any food or drink had had a. direct influence in causing death. Any gaseous liquor (such as the hop beer which the deceased and her sister were said to have taken) might have had the effect of distending the stomach, thereby affecting the heart's action, or indirectly the circulation in the brain. Cornelius Little stated that both the deceased and his wrfe ■were subject to heart trouble. A brother's death in February last was due to similar conditions. Dr. Fairelough Temaxted that this statement bore out the theory that arterial degeneration frequently runs In families. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural cause,-, in accordance with the medical testimony. On inquiry at midday to-day it was ascertained that Mrs. Little, who has been unconscious since Thursday, is still insensible, and is sinking fast.