CORONER'S COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 247, 18 October 1926, Page 9

CORONER'S COURT.

A FATAL FALL. DEATH DUE TO FRACTURED SKULL. The inquest concerning the death of Ellen Mary Pfeiffer, who was found dead in her room at 102 Nelson Street on Tuesday evening last was concluded before the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning. Evidence was given showing that the deceased was addicted to drink. Ellen Jackson, from whom the deceased rented her room, said that the woman came home at dinner time on Saturdaylast very drunk, and with her overcoat covered with blood. She went straight to bed. Early on Tuesday morning she got up and said "Oh, Mrs. Jackson, I've had a fall, I've hurt my head." Witness put her back to bed. and called a doctor, who said her condition was due to drink. Witness thought deceased died about 5 p.m. Dr. D. N. W. Murray stated he made a post mortem examination of the body. This showed a large fracture of the skull, which might have been caused by a fall against some object with a sharp corner. Death was due to fracture of the skull and haemorrhage of the brain. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. DEATH BT SUICIDE. TNMATE OF INFIRMARY. The coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning held an inquest concerning the death of Thomas George Cooper, a single man, aged 44, and an inmate of the Auckland Infirmary, who was found drowned in a bath this morning at the infirmary. The evidence showed that of late the deceased had been depressed. The customary hour for him to have his bath would have been about eleven o'clock. He was found shortly after six o'clock this morning lying in the bath with his head under the water. He appeared to have been dead about half an hour. The coroner returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide by drowning. MAN'S SKULL FRACTURED. ACCIDENT AT TNFIRMARY. The inquest concerning the death of Angus Joseph Jamieson, a married man. aged 49 years, an inmate of the Auckland Infirmary, who died in the Auckland Hospital last evening was held before the coroner, Mr. F.l£. Hunt, S.M., to-day. The evidence showed that the deceased had been found lying on the floor outside the lavatory at about a quarter to nine on Thursday morning last. He was found to be suffering from a fracture of the skull, apparently through slipping and falling. He had been confined to his bed for some time past. After the accident he was removed to the Auckland Hospital, where he died. After hearing further medical evidence. the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, the deceased having slipped and sustained a fracture of the i skull.