THE LATE ROBERT POLLOCK.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4608, 31 May 1872, Page 3

THE LATE ROBERT POLLOCK.

An inquest was held yesterday at 2 p.m. in the Empire Hotel, before l)r. Philson, coroner of the district, to inquire into the cause by which Robert Pollock came by his death on the 29th May. After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was called : —Joha Harding, sworn, deposed : I am a carter, in the employ of Messrs. Soppet, millera. I was standing at the corner of the Waitemata Hotel yesterday, the 29th instant, shortly after noon. I was speaking to deceased at tho time on matters of business. - He appeared at tho time in his usual health, so far as I could see. I had been in conversation with him two or three minutes, when he made a stagger of about a couple of steps, and dropped down at my feet. He fell backwards to the ground. He uttered no cry, but a slight groan. Mr. James Butcher was speaking to him at the same time, and witnsssed what happened. We called, out for some water, and bathed his face and forehead with it. He was not breathing at this time, having only breathed once or twice before the water came. His face was pale, but not livid, nor did he froth at the mouth. There was a slight convulsion and a twitching of his hands. In falling his head appeared to strike the street heavily. We removed the deceased on to the footpath, when Dr. Hooper saw him in a few minutes, afterwards. This was about ten minutes after he fell down. The doctor gave him a, little brandy and water, but deceased could not swallow it. The doctor then said tbat life was extinct. A cab was procured, and deceased conveyed to his late resideuce, where the jury had viewed the body. I have known the deceased about seven yearn. Ho was generally a healthy man, and I waa in, the habit of seeing him nearly every day. I believe he never tasted intoxicating drink since I first knew him. He is upwards of 60 years of age. I have no idea of the cause of his death. In our conversation together there was nothing to disturb or excite him.—James Butcher, carter, gave corroborative evidence. — Constable John Cadell gave evidence, but it was merely formal, and altogether unimportant.—John Henry Hooper, M.8.C.5.E., deposed : I was acquainted with the deceased. Have known him ever since I have been here, about ten years." I have attended his family pro fessionally. Deceased himself was never under my care. I was called to him yesterday between 12 and 1 o'clock, as 1 chanced to <be in Queen-street at the time. When I 'saw him I found him lying on the pavement dying. I tried to administer some brandy, but he was too far gone to swallow it. He was quite insensible. I could feel a slight f beating of the heart, but no pulse at the wrists'.' J He exphed almost immediately. I have this day made a post mortem examination of his body. I first opened the chest, aad found the left lung healthy. The right wa3 much oofagestedl^The heart was enlarged, 'but ' riot". to Ta very great extent.' The aortic valiverwere very much coated with an ossiferoua deposite, especially in the centre. The other valves were healthy, and the muscular structure wa3 quite firm.' The other;.organs of* the body were tolerably (healthy foi a^ip^n pf his age. I then opened 'the head. 1 I fbtm'd Ja serous effusion ail over -the-brain—indead -an immense quantity of fluid —no dotted jblood.. The Eraiti was otherwise healthy: No aneurism, orjtumours. 'ffhe inside of the fljtull waa quite sound, and no protrusion of bone. The liver was verging Ib'waids the 'nutmeg character. It •wa^not, enlarged., .The stomach Widl quite "healthy.' ' believe' the caaoe of dejita to havtfbien serous apoplexy, There yas an 'iratpen^a 4amou > ntp| fl^rnm^on the brain. I know nothing about his" habits bu£ from hearsay. The sudden effusion of thej serum op ijhe brain would be the cause fof his sudden, fa 11 .7, • There wa& no. mark of violence onthe'sUull'from the fall—The jury then returned a yerdict io, accordance with the medical testimonyJ "Sudden death by serous 'frpoplcx'y." ". -' ' • , !

A. meeting is to be held this eveiung,_in tho Presbyterian Schoolroom, ParheUJfof the jmiggggof submitting the rules and jregula'tfonsioif" tlie" A¥clcrand' Working] Men's" ' Friendly Sooiety, f»d commentingi on the same. ,',.-, \. " * %' \ We hare examined the itock of lockett, «oi ie 403 in nil, at F. HI lewisVo'n'*, jeweller, Queen-st eet, and prgSl6t}3ci.oe tbfm jtjie V»Bt>siortment in the fcolonlei . ' Hwe you tee^.tbe loccetlocket to contain four lik* ntisa?— (Adv.)