SUDDEN DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1933, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH

EDWARD FRANCIS McGRATH.

The death occurred at his late residence Threadneedle Street, last evening, of Edward Francis (Denny) McGrath,»a native of Greymouth, ageu 47 years. He went out into the backyard of his home at about « P.m., ana a few minutes later his mother found, him there dead. For nearly . years the deceased had been a menwer of the Railway Workshops stafl at Greymouth. He took a keen in in football and hockey, and was erly a member of the old K ° h Football Club. He was also a mem her of the Railway Workshops Car Club. He is survived by his mothex, Mrs. Sophia McGrath, a ’ Frederick McGrath, and .-nwfali Miss E. McGrath Mrs J. Banow (all of Greymouth), Mrs. W - Cars ( . con) Mrs. B. Warren (Wellington;, and ’ Mrs. G. Morrish (Blaketown). Th o funeral will take place to-morrow morning at Karoro cemeteiy. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST.

An inquest concerning the death of Mr McGrath was held to-day, Ibefor Mr W. Meldrum (Coroner). s ® nl ° r Sergeant C. E. Roach conducted the stated that he was called to the residence of deceased at 6 p.m., and found McGrath dead. There was a slight bruise over the left brow, which had been caused before death. Witness could not determine the cause of death, at the time, but he made a complete post-mortem examination today With the exception of the hiain, he found all the organs perfectly healthy. On the surface of the brain, there was very extensive haemorrhage. On looking for the cause of the haemorrhage, witness discovered a small ruptured aneurism at the base of the brain, external to the brain substance. The haemorrhage was quite sufficient to cause fairly sudden death. The Senior-Sergeant: What caused the aneurism? —A congenital defect. He had had it all his life. Would the rupture be caused by an external source? —No. If anything, it would be internal. A sudden rise of blood pressure might cause it. The Coroner: What would you say was the cause of death? Pressure on the brain, due to severe intracranial haemorrhage. The Senior-Sergeant: That would be brought on by natural causes? —Yes. The Coroner: And that, you say. was due to a congenital defect? —Yes. A congenital defect of an artery of the brain. John Baden Powell Barrow, a broth-er-in-law of McGrath, stated that the latter’s usual health was good, and he had not lost a day’s work through illness. He went to work yesterday, and returned home at 4.30 p.m., in his usual health. When witness saw deceased at 5 p.m., McGrath was painting a ladder, in the back yard. When called for tea about 6 p.m., he did not respond, and he was found dead. McGrath had not been attended by a doctor for many years. He was single, and had resided at Greymouth all his life. He never took intoxicating liquor to excess.

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased came to his death through pressure on the brain, due to severe intra-cranial haemorrhage, the result of a congenital defect in an artery of the brain.