Coroner’s Court Lodger Dies From Escaping Gas

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31135, 11 August 1966, Page 18

Coroner’s Court Lodger Dies From Escaping Gas

Robert Caldwell, aged 38. died on June 9 at 118 Chester street from asphxia due to carbon monoxide poisoning, the Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) found yesterday afternoon when the inquest into Caldwell’s death was concluded. Rosslyn Gay Reid, married, said she let a detached room to Caldwell. It contained an old gas-light which she believed had been disconnected from the mains. It was operated by pulling a chain. On the morning of June 10 she knocked on Caldwell’s door to call him, but could get no reply. She smelt gas and got one of the lodgers to break open the door. To Mr P. G. S. Penlington, who appeared for Caldwell's relatives, Mrs Reid said she had been told the gas had been coming from a disused gas-light.

John Edward Harrison, a warehouseman, said he broke into the room at Mrs Reid’s request and found Caldwell lying half out of bed. There was a strong smell of gas, but he could hear none escaping and the gas taps of the stove were off. Caldwell had lived there for only two days. KILLED BY GAS . Florence Maud Augusta Kilian, aged 83, was found to have died on June 6 at her home in Hereford street from asphxia due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Mrs N. L. Riddell gave evidence <ff finding Mrs Kilian's body when she visited her home on the morning of June 7. There was a pot of milk on the stove and the gas oven was on but was not lit. FATALLY INJURED Hector George Fowler, aged 42, a building contractor, of Ranglora, was found to have died at the Christchurch Hospital on June 12, the cause of death being toxaemia due to peritonitis caused by fractures of the pelvis suffered when the car he was driving on the Am berley Beach road on June 1 struck a concrete culvert and he was thrown out. Barbara Alice Powell, mar ried. said that at 9.45 a m. she found Fowler lying badly injured near his car. He told her that he had been reading a pamphlet when he was driving to the beach for a game of golf and the car ran off the seal and struck the culvert. Constable H. White, of Amberley. said that it appeared that Fowler had been thrown out of the car which then ran over him. HEART FAILURE The Coroner found that Walter Adie, aged 83. died at Christchurch Hospital on June 9 from acute heart failure due to severe coronary artery atherosclerosis In association with hypersensitive congested failure, aeute intestinal obstruction and operation. ROAD DEATHS Reginald George Forman, aged 66, died on Ferry road near the intersection with Wilson road and Moorhouse avenue of cardio-respiratory fatlure due to fracture of the skull and lacerations of the brain suffered when the cvcle he was riding and a car driven by Jeffrey Allan Stevens, collided. the Coroner found. Elsie Mabel Malcolm, aeed 76. died at Christchurch Hospital ' on June 3 of lacerations and , haemorrhage of the brain and

multiple fractures suffered In Stanmore road near the inter section with Swanns road on May 28 when she was struck by a car driven by Peter Alexander Reid, the Coroner found. SUICIDE VERDICTS John Jeffrey Hail, aged 63. was found to have committed suicide at the Ashley river at Sefton on June 16, the cause of death being carbon men oxide poisoning. David Henry Bercusson. aged 11, died of asphyxia due tn hanging when he committed suicide at his home, 52 Innes road, on May 26. the Coroner found. Gordon Clyde Armitage, aged 66, committed suicide at his home, 117 Francis avenue on June 13. The cause of death was carbon monoxide poison ing, the Coroner found.