NATURAL CAUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1940, Page 3

NATURAL CAUSES.

CHARGE DISMISSED. MAORI ACQUITTED. MANSLAUGHTER ALLEGATION. "In view of the medical evidence I am satisfied there is no possibility of a jury convicting the accused. He is discharged," *aid Mr. J. Moiling. S.M., this morning, after hearing Dr. W. C.Wmour, j>athologist, state that the death of Lindsay Xelson Coles was due to natural causes. A Maori soldier, Tiopira Paniora, aged 24, had pleaded not guilty to a charge that on March 15 he killed Lindeay Xelson Coles, thereby committing manslaughter. Detective-Sergeant Xalder prosecuted, Mr. IJone appeared for the accused and Mr. G. S. R. Meredith wutehed proceeding* on behalf of the Public Works Department. Tha evidence called by the prosecution showed that on the afternoon of March 15 Coles had had several drinks at different hotels, and late in the afternoon had won a raffle in a hotel bur entitling him to eight bottle* of beer. The beer was placed on tlie liar, but when Coles discovered a little later the beer was missing he became very excited and threw a handle of l>eer down tlie bar. The glass was shattered, and then Coles and a Maori soldier went outside. The soldier was seen to grab Coles by the shoulder, and Coles wn« next'seen lying on the footpath. He was taken into the hotel, and later to the Auckland Hospital. He was dead on being admitted. There was a smear of blood on his left ear. Dr. W. (Jiltuonr, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, said there was no post-mortem evidence of an injury by a blow. Deceased had a ruptured aneurism precipitated by excitement. This type of hemorrhage "was extremely rare as a result of a blow. Deceased's death was due to natural causes.