INQUEST

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 2

INQUEST

GREYMOUTH MAN’S DEATH

An inquest into the death of Mr John Donovan Cullen, of Greymouth, who was found dead in his bed on Sunday morning, was held .at Greymouth yesterday afternoon, before Mr M. J. Fogarty, J.P., Coroner. Senior Sergeant G. F. Bonisch conducted the proceedings for the police. , , _ Frederick William Bayley oi Greymouth, a storeman, said that he and the deceased, who had been nextdoor neighbours, were close friends for twenty years. About three weeks ago while at the Public Works Office, deceased had had an attack from, which he took about half an hour to recover. He usually kepi, fairly' good health, and apart from being partially deformed by rheumatism, he suffered no serious ailments as far as Witness knew. Deceased, who was a widower, lived alone. Witness had not seen anything of deceased on Sunday morning up till about 11 a.m., and he thought this strange. He investigated and found deceased dead in bed. He identified the body as that of the deceased. Dr. H. S. Ray said he was called to the residence of deceased about 11.30 a.m. on Sunday and found him dead. Death had occurred at least six hours previously. Later he performed a post mortem examination. He detailed the results of the examination, and said the heart showed very extensive disease. There were no external marks on the body. Death was due, in his opinion, to heart failure, the result of advanced coronary artery' disease. The Coroner's verdict was that the cause of death was heart failure, the result of advanced coronary artery disease.