The Sudden Death of an Auckland Lawyer.

Manawatu Herald, 26 April 1892, Page 2

The Sudden Death of an Auckland Lawyer.

At the inquest at Auckland on the body of the late Johu M. Alexander, solicitor, Dv Dawson, the doctor who had attended deceased, deposed that he had made a po3t mortem examination with Dr Rowley on hia own account, to satisfy himself as to the cause of death "He had not then known that deceased had had mental woi ry lately, or that the police intended holding an inquest, otherwise he would not have held a post mortem on his own account. He was satisfied that the cause of death was natural. He paw no reason to suppose that the deceased committed suicide. Dr Rowley, who was summoned to the bedside of deceased on Friday morning, and found him dead, deposed that he and Dr Dawson had made a post mortem examination, and believed death to have heen caused by disease of the liver and brain. H T. Gorrie, one of the trustees of an estate for which Alexander was solicitor, and W. F. Buekland gave evidence to show that Alexander had received the whole of the moneys of the estate, about £4000, proceeds of the sale of the property, but when the estate was to be divided the Trustees were unable to meet Alexander at his office. He made various appointments, which he did not keep ; be then promised to send Mr Gorrie a cheque for £2000 but did not do so, explaining that he had lent the money. He afterwards sent a post dated cheque tor £4000, payable pn April 25. The Trustees then informed Alexander that the money or securities would have to be handed over to them by noon on Friday, his arrest baing resolved upon if he failed. It was learned on

Friday morning that Alexander was. dead. Dr Mackellar deposed that the post mortem oxamination which had been made proved nothing The contents of the stomach were lost. The jury returned the following verdict : —There is no evidence to show how deceased come by his death. -Press Association.