A SICK MAN'S TRIALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 197, 14 May 1908, Page 4

A SICK MAN'S TRIALS.

WEARY SEARCH FOR A BED. . THE EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) • . Auckland, May 12. Details in connection with tho 1 sudden death of _,tho man, Win. Amos, as ho was about to start- for Wellington on Sunday, were supplied at the inquest yesterday. Station-Sergfc. Hendry, . who appeared for the police, stated ;that deceased was a plumber, • and was about 40 ..years of ago. On arriving at tho police station on Saturday evening he saw deceased sitting thoro in a chair. Amos asked if he could be locked up or providod with shelter for the night. Witness gathered from deceased that lie had been trying at Onehunga and, Auckland to get accommodation, for which he had plenty of money to offer, and ho could travel 110 more. Ho had, ho/said, boon at Rotoruafor a .month on account of somo stomach trouble. He had been at live-.or six houses at Onehunga on Friday, and had begged for shelter until he nearly dropped. At length ho obtained a shake-down in a shed. . Ho considered the reason why hotel-keepers refused to. give him a-bed- was because he ookod very ill. When ho came.-to 'Auckland on-Saturday he went to a number of hotels for accommodation, but was refused, and a gentleman who had attempted to find cover for nun had been unable to do so.Deceased, continued the sergeant, declined' to have the services of a floctor,-, and witness oventually- got him away in a call, together with a constable, and they procured lodging at tho Clarendon Hotel. There Amos received every attention. . l P"kcs. said that when tho man was brought to his surgery ho was dead. The\ body was much emaciated. Ho subsequently mado a post-mortem «. examination, ■ and round cvidenco of advanced tubercular • disease and other.. complications. Tho cause ot death was heart failure from exhaustion, duo to the disease mentioned. Robert Clarke deposed that on Saturday evening he saw deceased in Karangahape Koad,.when 110 asked, .where Kinj;. Court boarding-house in Upper Queen Street was.. : \\ itness took him to the place, but when application was, made., for accommodation • Amos was refused, it. being- stated that tho house was quite full.. Deceased offered to lie on, the floor or anywhere under shelter, ihe manager, however, absolutely refused to receive him, ami referred witness to the f ™P.'° s Palace in Wcllesley ,Street East. Ultimately :I got deceased as far as the lim p S T Palace," continued the witness. 1 hero I saw the matron.. -She said she had fourpenny: beds, but she refused to take this mail im . Then -we tried at an hotel. , I saw, the .licensee , and . his wife, and I told thorn - that Amos ha'd the means of paying ; for .his; accommodation. - They said they could not accommodate him; Deceased said lie would 'shake-down anywhere, but was refused. The,deceased, was wholly froofrom drink, ana, except for his, invalid • appearanee, I' know, of 110 valid reason . why the hotel-keepers should: refuse,-him ! accommo--nation.", r , • . Mrs. Nora Lynch, licenaee of tho Claren-. don Hotel, said 'he had ; at once agreed -to. take Amos m .when, the const-able told her ho was ill.; He was .well looked after, 'and remained until 11.30 p.m. on Sunday, when her -brother .escorted him towards the ,One-> hunga . car.. ■..Both- -Mrs.. Lynch- and her brother gave evidence as to deceased's sobriety: ,7.. .-. . • - v. . .. .>. •• The i"rv returned a , vor dict in .accordance witli Dr. Parkes s. evidence,. and added;"a .rider . recording - their . appreciation -of- the kindness shown ; the deceased :bv Mrs. Lvnch a. Mr.Robti - Clarke. ''Vvo trust;" the rider .'continued; "that the fact .that, certain hotel-keepers refused to allow -the deceased shelter and, accommodation v.ill be invest' - - .gated and .dealt'- with by the- proper., .tribunal." ' . ,"' -....' . . - .