THREE INQUESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 200, 23 August 1940, Page 3

THREE INQUESTS.

MAGICIAN'S HEART FAILURE. VEHICLES IN COLLISION. The city coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, tcld two inquests this morning and adjourned a third after evidence of identification had been taken. A verdict that death was due to heart failure was returned in the ru«e of Allen Roberts aged <il, who died at 82a, Grafton Road on August 12. Deceased was a magician by occupation and was also known as Gus Ford and "Pop Adair." Evidence was given that on the night of August 12, before retiring to bed, he complained of cold feet and a congested chest. About midnight he called out that he could not get his breath, and Dr. O'Brien was sent for, but on his arrival life was extinct. Passenger in Milk Via. At the inquest into the death of William James Smith, pensioner, aged 75, of Rimu Street, Kew Lynn, it was shown that deceased was a> pa«sc-riger on ir light milk delivery van. which was being driven by Robert Crawfori Smith, when it came into collision with a- motor truck driven by Frank Robert Newton. The accident happened at the intersection of Wattle Street and Great North Road on the evening of May 3. Deceased suffered a fractured skull when thrown from the van. Subsequently Robert Crawford Smith waa charged in the Magistrate's Court with negligent driving, causing death, and committed to the Supreme Court for trial. In the Supreme Court the grand jury found a no bill on the charge. The coroner found that death was due to a fractured skull, the result of being thrown when the vehicles came into collision. Widow in Accident. An inquest was opened into the death of Ellen Xesbit, widow, aged 84, who, on August 16, was knocked down by a motor van in Great Xorth Road and died immediately after the accident. Deceased lived at 33, Xixon Street, Grey Lynn, but prior to February last lived in Kaeo. After evidence of identification waa given the inquest was adjourned.