GIRL’S SUDDEN DEATH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 January 1929, Page 5

GIRL’S SUDDEN DEATH.

UNSUSPECTED' HAEMORRHAGE. PRECIPITATED BY EXERTION. (By Telegrapn—Prasa Association » AUCKLAND, Jan. 30. The death this morning of Laura Freda Lewis, aged 21, a seamstress residing with her parents at Morningside is now considered to have been, caused by cerebral haemorrhage, unsuspected and apparently precipitated by -exertion in quietening a barking dog.

Miss Lewis went to a picture theatre last night with her fiance and after a light supper with the family the fiance left at 11 o’clock and Miss Lewis : retired, to sleep On .a couch jon account of the presence of About 2.20 Miss Lewis awakened her’brother Reginald, aged 19, andi complained of the' noise made by a -dog which was kept close to the room "in which she was sleeping. Both went outside ' The animal was quietened and Miss Lends I went to her parents’ room before again retiring. . " “She seemed satisfied the dog would keep quiet and there was nothing unusual in her manner,”, her mother said. “A few . minutes later we heard a very loud thud. I could not believe Freda had fallen out of bed. She; tried to talk to us, but one convulsion followed another and she kept putting her hands to her head.” Miss Lewis was taken to hospital and died .at 5 o'clock. For some time she had been suffering from headaches and was subject to very sudden sleepiness. She had consulted• three doctors. A tonic was procured for her on the assumption that the trouble was gastric. A post-mortem examination revealed that the young woman suffered from abnormally: ..high -, blood pressure following chronic kidney disease.

When the inquest was opened 'this afternoon reference was made to the possibility of poison , haying been, ac-" cessible to the young woman, but- the father -said nothing dangerous -was kept in the house. The inquest -was adjourned.