BLOWS STRUCK?

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 68, 21 March 1934, Page 8

BLOWS STRUCK?

DEATH IN STREET.

MAN NEAR A CITY CAFE. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. At 12.30 a.m. on Saturday, Marcli 3, a single man, Robert Cramond Ashton, farm labourer, aged 44, was found dead on the pavement in Hobson Street, near a restaurant from which he had emerged not long before. The police were, early upon the scene and detectives interviewed many persons in connection with the matter, an allegation having been made that deceased had been assaulted. ' The inquest, which was opened by Mr. W. If. McKean, S.M., the same day and adjourned for the purpose of having a post mortem examination made on the body of deceased, was resumed in the Magistrate's Court this afternoon by the coroner. Chief Detective Sweeney represented the police. The first witness was Patricia Dunn, a waitress, who said that deceased called at the Adriatic Cafe for a meal. Fie was rolling about in hk-chair, and tapping the table with his -fingers. She could smell drink on him. He went to sleep before finishing his meal, with his head on his arm oil.the table. He was still in that position at 11.15 p.m. when she went home. She noticed that his eyeballs were all inflamed. Sergeant Farrell said he saw a man sitting in the cafe with his face almost in his plate. The man spoke to witness, telling him he was all right and was "having a feed." The next time witness saw the man at 1.20 a.m. he was lying dead in Hobson Street. Constable Allan said lie saw a small group af men around decease?! on the footpath near a pawnshop. Deceased was in a sitting position and witness could see lie was in a serious condition. Witness went to telephone for a doctor but during his brief absence the man died. A witness stated that he saw deceased come out of the cafe, and also a Dalmatian strike him two blows. Deceased did not retaliate. (Proceeding.)