SUDDEN CALLS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 90, 31 May 1912, Page 5

SUDDEN CALLS.

TWO MEN FOUND DEAD IN BED. A middle-aged man named Charles Uownie, who liqd been in tho employ of Mr D. Bryco, Lovells Fait, wai found dead in bed l at the Albion Boarding Mouse at Dunedin on Monday night. He had gone io Dunedin the previous Tuesday,- and had been drinkmg a good deal up to the time of his death. The proprietor of the boarding house saw him alive at 10.30 on Monday night, but an hour later the man was found dead in his room. At the inquest, Dr Roberts, who had conducted a post mortem examination, stated that in his opinion death was due to sudden heart failure, the result of alcoholism and exhaustion. A. verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony.

Mil JOSEPH MAIITJN. DIED VI-Sn'.KDAY AIOIIMNG. Mr Jos. Martin, an old age pensioner, was found dead in his bud in an outhouse on the Coliee Palace premises, ISalclutha, yesterday morning. Since retiring Irom aclive work » year or two ago, Mr Martin, in return lor light itssistaiiee when occasion required, was given board and lodging a t the Cofiee palace. A week or two ago he complained of not feeling too well, and to use hip words, "took a spell." His indisposition did not seem to be serious, and he never consulted a doetor. On Wednesday evening there did not seem to l»e anything untoward and he went to the Taylor-t'arringtou play, but yesterday morning about 7.3(1, ho told Ah ii. Ivii-by, proprietor of the Ooliee Palace, that he was not feeling very well. Mr Kirby brought aim a cup,of tea, and "Old -Joe'' said, he would return to bed. At 11.30 Mr Kirby went into the outhouse where the old pensioner slept, wtoth the intention of giving him some soup, and failing to waken him looked closer. The signs of death wx;re over the man's face. A boarder was instantly called, tnd after a moment's inspection, l)r Brugh was telephoned for, and ou the doctor arriving a few minutes later he pronounced life to be extinct. I Death had not occurred more than an | hour before.

The lute Mr Martin was unmarried, and as far as we can learn, hull no "datives in New Zealand. lie was about '67 years ot age, and the old age pension served to provide his simple wants. Ho was an old resident of the Clutha, and for a long time was ploughman at Begg's. He was deaf, and at all times a reserved man, but to all those to whom his heart warmed he was kind and true.

An inquest will be held at the court house to day as two o'clock, before Mr G. W. Wood, J.P., Acting-Coroner and a jury of four.