COLLAPSE IN STREET

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 150, 22 March 1934, Page 10

COLLAPSE IN STREET

Death From Natural Causes FINDINGS AT INQUEST By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 21. “Whether this man were struck or not has no bearing on the cause of bis death,” commented Mr. W. R. McKean S.M., coroner, at the conclusion of an inquest concerning the death of Robert Cramond Ashton, a single _ man, aged 44, who collapsed and died in • Hobson Street about 12.30 a.m. on March 3. Ashton, who was a farm labourer, was found lying on the pavement near a restaurant he had been in. The verdict was that his death was due to natural causes. The coroner said the report of the pathologist showed that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage, which, however, was of such a kind that, the doctor was of opinion, haemorrhage was due to natural causes and not to any blow or fall. An abrasion which had been mentioned was also not a fresh bruise, a microscopic examination of the blood showing that the abrasion had occurred certainly some hours before death.

“It is extraordinary. I have some evidence that deceased was struck; one witness says so definitely,” continued the coroner. “Whether he were struck or not has no bearing on the cause of his death. The man when he entered the cafe was a sick man, and had been so for some days. Death was due entirely to natural causes and not to any maltreatment in the restaurant.” The coroner added that deceased was not under the influence of liquor. It was perfectly clear that his condition in the restaurant and his death were due to natural causes. «■