INQUEST HELD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 90, 20 November 1939, Page 5

INQUEST HELD

P.W.D. EMPLOYEE

COLLAPSE AT CAMP

Before Mr G. A- Brabant, J.P., District Coroner, an inquest was held on Friday morning into the death of Mr Edgar James, a married man, aged 55, who collapsed and died in bed at the Public Works camp, on the Taneatua Road, early on Thursday morning. Thomas Sturdee, a labourer cmployed at the same quarry as deceased, stated in evidence that he knew deceased, who had occupied a hut nearby. At 3.30 a.m. on Thursday he heard deceased crying as if in pain and when he went to enquire- Mr James had asked him to get some boiling water. Witness procured the water and put in it, at deceased's request, a tablespoonful of a powder which was in a tin, and which witness understood to be Bicarbonate of Soda. He handed the drink to deceased but after only a sip Mr James fell forward. Witness stated that he then ran to a hut occupied by George Hill, for.assistance, and together they wcn.t back to deceased's hut.

Further Witness, George Ernest Hill, a carpenter employed by the Public Works at the quarrA 7 , gave evidence of identification. Deceased, he said, had complained of pains in the chest which he thought to be indigestion. He had been with Mr James at 8.45 p.m. the previous evening and at that time deceased appeared to be alright. At 3.45 a.m. the next morning Stur dee had roused him and informed him that deceased was in a bad way. He accompanied Mr Sturdee to deceased's hut and saw him lying still. They rang for medical attention and Dr Appleby arrived shortly afterwards and pronounced life ex tine!:. Medical Evidence. Constable F. M. Fuller said that he was informed at 5.30 a.m. by the doctor that deceased had died. He proceeded to the Depot and saw deceased. The constable stated further that he had made inquiries and thai there were no suspicious circumstances. In evidence, Dr Appleby said that he was called at about 4 a.m. to a man reported to be seriously ill. On arrival he found that Mr James had been dead for about twenty minutes. Witness stated that he had conducted a post-mortem examination and had found that deceased was suffering with an advanced state of Arteriosclerosis and the cause of death was Coronary Thrombosis.

Coroner's Finding. The Coroner returned a verdict that Edgar James died at the Public Works Depot on the Taneatua Road, on the 16th of November, from natural causes and that the immediate cause of death was Coronary Thrombosis following diseased arteries of the heart. |